Displaying items by tag: India
Dalmia Cement Bharat managing director and chief Mahendra Singhi named Person of the Year
21 December 2021India: First Construction Council and the Indian Cement Review have named Dalmia Cement Bharat managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Mahendra Singhi as Person of the Year at the Cement Expo on Cementing India’s Future for the 2022 financial year. Singhi won the title for his exemplary contribution towards transformational changes in the Indian and global cement sectors, significantly facilitating the transition to a more circular economy. Singhi is the previous president of the Indian Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) and the previous chair of the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM). He has achieved recognition as a Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 Business Leader and a World Bank Group Carbon Pricing Champion.
Singhi said “I am honoured to receive this award on behalf of people with whom I worked in the last 43 years in various companies who have shaped my clean and sustainable journey and I dedicate this award to them. I feel fortunate that I have been able to have visionary mentors and committed colleagues who could support my cemented journey.” He added “I am hopeful about the future as we transition towards newer business models that will drive us to remain profitable, ensure value creation and, at the same time, achieve environmental sustainability.”
Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel to build 18.8Mt cement plant in Odisha
20 December 2021India: The Odisha government has approved Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel’s plans to build a 18.8Mt/yr cement plant in connection to a new steel plant to be established at Mahakalpara in the state’s Kendrapara district. The project will have a total investment of around US$13.5bn, according to the Hindu newspaper. Once operational both the cement and steel plant will be the largest of their type in the country. The company plans to carry out the project in phases, for completion by the late 2020s.
Indian cement sales rise in first half of 2022 financial year
16 December 2021India: Finance company ICRA reported all-India cement sales in the first half of the 2022 financial year of 124Mt, up by 22% year-on-year. Mint News has reported that the total value of cement sales rose by 5% in the period compared to the first half of the 2021 financial year. Producers’ raw materials costs rose by 16%, while power, coal and petcoke costs rose by 26% and freight costs rose by 7%. Granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) and gypsum prices also rose.
ICRA corporate ratings assistant vice president and sector head Anupama Reddy said "Despite some easing in the cost-side pressures, the input costs are likely to remain elevated in the near term, and are expected to exert pressure on operating margins, which are likely to decline by 200 to 230 basis points (BPS) in the 2022 financial year as a whole. While the capacity additions are expected to increase year-on-year in the 2022 financial year, the reliance on debt is likely to be lower owing to the healthy cash generation and strong liquidity of the cement companies. The debt coverage metrics are expected to remain strong in the 2022 financial year."
India: SCG International India has announced the launch of a joint venture with autoclaved aerated concrete block producer Bigbloc Construction. The joint venture will produce and sell lightweight concrete panels. It expects to commission a new 2.6Mm3/yr concrete panel plant in Gujarat in 2022. Bigbloc Construction holds the majority 52% stake in the venture.
India: A Telangana court has blocked Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana from disconnecting the power supply to some of Anjani Portland Cement’s cement operations in the state. The power supply is seeking to take the measure among other ‘coercive steps’ in an on-going dispute with the producer. Reuters News has reported that Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana has issued a demand letter for alleged breach of obligations by Anjani Portland Cement.
ACC establishes new Green Building Centre in Telangana
14 December 2021India: ACC has expanded its Green Building Centre chain into Telangana. The Orissa Diary newspaper has reported that the producer inaugurated the new Karimnagar Green Building Centre in the state on 14 December 2021. The centre will stock affordable alternative building products such as fly ash bricks and reduced-CO2 concrete blocks. ACC aims to support Indian cities’ social, environmental and financial development through its Green Building Centres.
Managing director and chief executive officer Sridhar Balakrishnan said "At ACC, we strongly believe in embracing communities and working together to effect the real change. ACC's Green Building Centre business model benefits thousands of small scale construction workers by giving them employment and training."
India: Ratings agency Crisil has forecast 11 – 13% year-on-year growth of cement sales volumes in the 2021 financial year. The Press Trust of India has reported that the agency predicted that high demand and increased fuel costs would precipitate a rise in cement prices to record levels before April 2022.
In December 2021, petcoke prices rose by 80% year-on-year, while the price of imported coal had more than doubled. This has increased cement producers’ costs by 40%.
Ambuja Cements responds to CDP Water A List 2021 listing
08 December 2021India: Ambuja Cements has celebrated the recognition of its water management practices through its listing on CDP's Water A List 2021. The company is the first cement producer to acheive the rating. It said that it succeeded through 'prudent' use of water- for instance through modular curing and concrete mix proportion adjustments - and harvesting. In addition, it continues to evolve its cement portfolio to minimise its consumption of natural resources, with a focus on water. Ambuja Cements' Sustainable Development Ambition 2030 strategy commits it to a freshwater withdrawal reduction of 15% by 2030. Its initiatives have so far saved 70Ml of water, according to the company. It called this a 'robust step' on the global path to sustainable construction and said that it will continue to advocate for environmentally friendly solutions.
Managing director and chief executive officer Neeraj Akhoury said "Water has always been the key focus area for Ambuja Cements. This achievement reaffirms our will to remain committed to address water scarcity issues in future and contribute to the establishment of sustainable tomorrow."
UltraTech Cement announces planned Maihar cement plant expansion
03 December 2021India: UltraTech Cement plans to increase the production capacity at its Maihar cement plant by 50%. Denmark-based FLSmidth will carry out the expansion project, which also involves the installation of a new calciner and JetFlex burner, along with other pyroprocessing equipment. The supplier says that the upgrade will facilitate greater alternative fuel substitution at the plant in Madhya Pradesh.
FLSmidth’s cement president Carsten Riisberg Lund said “We are pleased to continue our long-lasting collaboration with UltraTech Cement. With the new upgrades to the pyro sections, installing MissionZero flagship offerings, such as the low-NOx calciner and JetFlex burner, UltraTech makes a significant investment in future-proofing its sustainable production.”
Saurashtra Cement and Gujarat Sidhee Cement announce merger
01 December 2021India: Saurashtra Cement and Gujarat Sidhee Cement have agreed to merge into a single entity. Their respective boards of directors approved the plans on 30 December 2021.