Displaying items by tag: Ambuja

India: Ambuja Cement recorded sales of US$930m in the first half of 2021, up by 41% year-on-year from US$659m in the same period in 2020. Cement sales volumes grew by 36% to 13.5Mt from 9.95Mt. Its profit after tax was US$186m, up by 63% from US$114m.

“This performance resulted from strong growth in sales of premium products and successful execution of efficiency improvement programs which has partly been impacted by rising energy and raw material costs. Synergies under the master supply agreement have significantly benefited both Ambuja and ACC as we leverage our national footprint,” said Neeraj Akhoury, the chief executive officer of Holcim in India and the managing director of Ambuja Cement.

The company also announced that its board has approved a 1.5Mt/yr expansion project at its Ropar grinding plant in Punjab.

India: Ambuja Cements and ACC are planning to participate in parent company LafargeHolcim’s ‘Plants of Tomorrow’ programme. The initiative, which aims to make cement manufacturing more efficient through better plant optimisation, higher plant availability and a safer working environment, is part of LafargeHolcim’s ‘Building for Growth’ strategy, which was launched globally in mid-2019.

The four-year programme implemented by LafargeHolcim aims to create a global network of over 270 integrated cement plants and grinding stations in more than 50 countries by applying automation technologies and robotics, machine learning, predictive maintenance and digital twin technologies to the entire production processes. The ‘Plants of Tomorrow’ initiative is also being implemented in other key markets in Switzerland, France, Germany, United Kingdom, US, Canada and Russia.

“As an industry leader we are looking at 'Plants of Tomorrow’ as a big opportunity and responsibility to place India on the map of global cement manufacturing. This path-breaking project will lead to transformative outcomes not just in terms of operational and financial gains but also make cement manufacturing in the country environmentally sustainable and create a safe work environment for our colleagues across all our plants,” said Neeraj Akhoury, the chief executive officer (CEO) of India Holcim and managing director and CEO of Ambuja Cements.

India: Ambuja Cement Foundation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vedanta Limited subsidiary Talwani Sabo Power Limited (TSPL). India Blooms News has reported that the partners plan to promote 200 self-help groups in Mansa district, Punjab. The groups’ focus will be on the empowerment of women. Under the memorandum of understanding, the partnership will establish at least three independent enterprises to address community problems in the district.

Managing director and chief executive officer Pearl Tiwari said, “As our major focus is on women, gender and livelihoods, our new partnership with TSPL will further support us to drive impactful initiatives under the women empowerment programme and enhance our already existing programmes in Punjab.”

India: The Ambuja Cement Foundation has announced the formation of a partnership with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The bank is funding phase two of the foundation’s Employability through Skill initiative. The initiative supports the development of off-farm economic activity in rural areas.

India: LafargeHoclim subsidiary Ambuja Cement has launched Ambuja Cool Walls, a product consisting of its aerated pre-cast concrete blocks. The producer says that Cool Walls have improved strength compared to walls made of brick. They also increase buildings’ insulation, according to the producer.

India: Ambuja Cements and ACC, LafargeHolcim’s local subsidiaries, have started supplying oxygen concentrators, cylinders and generating plants in various locations to help the government as it tackles a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

In Rajasthan, Ambuja Cements is setting up an oxygen generating plant at the JLN Hospital in Nagaur with a capacity of 40 - 50m³, with daily refilling of around 175 - 200 cylinders. The process to set up the oxygen plant has commenced and should be ready around the end of May 2021. In addition to setting up the plant, Ambuja Cements and ACC, have placed an order to procure 100 oxygen concentrators, each with a capacity of 10l/minute. These will be supplied to communities of three districts in Rajasthan - Bundi, Pali and Nagaur - where cement plant of both companies are located at Lakheri, Rabriyawas and Mundwa.

In Gujarat Ambuja Cements has installed an oxygen generating plant at Ambujanagar Multi-Specialty Hospital. The oxygen generating unit has a capacity of 35 - 40 cylinders/day at the flow rate of 10Nm3/hr and has been set up in two weeks.

Neeraj Akhoury, the chief executive officer of LafargeHolcim India, said “Community well-being has always been our priority, and it takes precedence as India bravely fights the second wave of the pandemic. In the current situation, oxygen supply is critical to combat the effects of Covid-19 and through setting up an oxygen generating plant, we aim to extend our support to the community members and local authorities.”

Other similar schemes to supply oxygen and related equipment are being prepared in Dehli, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, according to the Press Trust of India.

India: Ambuja Cement, part of LafargeHolcim, reported a 71% jump year-on-year in its consolidated net profit to US$127.9m during the first quarter of 2021, compared to a profit of US$74.8m in the same period of 2020. Managing Director Neeraj Akhoury said, "Indian demand growth has been strong in the last quarter, which has also helped the sales volume growth and commercial performance.”
Akhoury added that, despite strong and continuing headwinds with regards to input prices, including coal, petcoke and diesel, the company had made significant progress on efficiency improvement, which had a positive impact on cost evolution.

India: Ambuja Cement has successfully sent two cement shipments to their destinations using biofuel-powered ships. Two of the company’s cement carriers delivered cement in India while running using biofuel derived from soya extract.

The biodiesel blend (B20) was in compliance with International Maritime Organisation sulphur content requirements and met International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) levels in terms of flash point requirements. No increase of NOx was observed with biodiesel blend as compared to low sulphur high-speed diesel (LSHSD), rather the emission level was found to be less. The reduction in CO₂ was found to be around 7% and the total life cycle reduction of CO₂ by life cycle analysis was measured to be around 21%, as the biodiesel from soya extract had a reduction of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions by 70%.

Following the successful initiative, the Directorate General of Shipping has approved biofuels trials for the rest of Ambuja Cement’s fleet, which are mainly deployed on the Indian coastal route.

India: Ambuja Cement, part of Switzerland-based LafargeHolcim, plans to commission its upcoming Mundwa cement plant in Rajasthan by September 2021. The plant will have a total capacity of 5Mt/yr, consisting of 3Mt/yr of integrated and 2.0Mt/yr of grinding capacity. The Hindu newspaper has reported that the company aims to achieve 50Mt/yr total installed capacity in the medium term. It said that it is evaluating possible plant upgrades at Bhatapara in Chhattisgarh and Maratha in Maharashtra.

India: ACC’s audit committee and board of directors have approved the renewal of the company’s master supply agreement with Ambuja Cements from 2 May 2021 to 2 May 2024. The agreement will continue on its current terms.