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Ultratech Cement Secures $500 M SLL

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UltraTech Cement has secured a $500 million SLL or sustainability-linked loan with six banks.

The SLL will support UltraTech’s sustainability and ESG goals, aiming to achieve carbon-neutral concrete by 2050.

UltraTech aims to reduce emissions and increase green energy use, aiming for 85% from waste heat recovery systems, solar, and wind power by FY30 and 100% by FY50.

The lenders for this transaction include SMBC, SBI, BNP Paribas, DBS, MUFG, and Mizuho. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) served as the sole sustainability coordinator and advisor for UltraTech’s Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework.

This marks the cement company’s second sustainability-linked financing since a $400 million bond issuance in 2021.

The company also acquired a 26% stake in O2 Renewable Energy to reduce energy costs.


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India Introduces Coal Logistics Plan and Policy

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India has launched the Coal Logistics Plan, a significant step towards modernizing coal transportation and enhancing efficiency and sustainability.

The plan launched with collaboration from government, industry leaders, and stakeholders, suggests a strategic shift towards a railway-based system in FMC projects. The aim is a 14% reduction in rail logistic costs and an annual cost saving of Rs 21,000 crore.

Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi, launched the Coal Logistics Plan and Policy,” at an event sponsored by the Ministry of Coal and organized by the Indian National Committee World Mining Congress.

He emphasized the need for efficient logistics to meet the anticipated increase in energy demand from 980 MT to 1.5 BT by 2030. He highlighted the potential of first-mile connectivity to enhance railway network capacity, reduce air pollution, alleviate traffic congestion, and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 100,000 tonnes annually. Furthermore, a 10% reduction in the nation’s average wagon turnaround time is anticipated, he said.

Mr Joshi also touched upon the Ministry’s plan to integrate Rail-Sea-Rail (RSR) transportation, highlighting its growth and expansion plans to 120 BT by FY 2030. It must be noted that PM Gati Shakti has identified 37 railway projects for coal evacuation, and 15 projects have been initiated to bridge multimodal connectivity gaps, with five already in service.

Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, highlighted plans for large-scale energy corridor projects, new railroad lines, and capacity expansion. He urged collaboration for easy coal access.

M Nagaraju, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, emphasized the importance of environmentally responsible coal evacuation and outlined the Ministry’s integrated coal logistics plan, aiming for sustainable, affordable, and technology-enabled logistics.

A panel discussion led by Mr Nagaraju featured industry leaders discussing India’s coal transportation strategies. The focus was on self-sufficiency, environmental sustainability, and economic expansion through R&D, technical advancement, and removing transportation bottlenecks, promoting India’s capacity for economic growth.

Participants included Mr. A K Jha, Chairman, JPL, Mr. Nilabhra Dasgupta, Deputy Chairman, Paradeep Ports Trust, Mr. Subrat Tripathy, CEO, Adani Ports, Mr. Shrivam Shrivastava, Director, Fuel, NTPC, and Dr. JK Vashist, Head, Rail Logistics, Ultratech Cement.


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How these 5 cement companies are mapping their sustainability journey

Sonal Desai


[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The manufacturing sector—known as the traditional villain in a sector’s sustainable journey is picking pace with its peers in purpose-driven transformation.

One of the segments leading the sustainability narrative is cement manufacturing. Most leading cement manufacturers are already on their way to meet the RE 100 and EP 100 targets.

As the world’s second-largest cement producer after China, let us look at how Indian cement manufacturers progress on their RE 100 EP 100 commitment.

India-headquartered JK Lakshmi Cement has joined its peers namely Ultratech Cement, JSW, and Dalmia Cement, Ambuja Cement, to pledge 100 percent renewable energy across operations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]JK Cement
It is the 10th Indian-headquartered company to join RE100 and the 11th to join EP100. The company has become the 4th cement firm globally to join the initiative

  • The initiative aimed at making the production process carbon-free and creating a sustainable future
  • Committed to meet 100% electricity demand through renewable sources, and doubling energy productivity by 2040
  • Deployed LNG trucks to transport raw materials and recently signed an agreement with Amplus Solar to set up a 56 MWp solar power plant for its Durg facility

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”7774″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]“We have always emphasized on reducing carbon footprint and operating in an energy-efficient manner to facilitate global actions to create a sustainable future. With this initiative to be a part of RE100 & EP100, we are just accelerating our actions towards our commitment to a safe environment and a sustainable future,” said Arun Shukla, President & Director, JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]UltraTech Cement Limited
It is the largest manufacturer of grey cement, white cement and ready-mix concrete in India, has announced its commitment to Climate Group’s RE100 initiative at Climate Week NYC 2021.

  • Targets to meet 100 per cent of its electricity requirement through renewables sources by 2050
  • Focuses its sustainability initiatives on decarbonization, circular economy, biodiversity management, water positivity, safe operations and community development.
  • Has adopted Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and Internal Carbon Price and has set ambitious environmental targets through both EP100 and RE100.
  • Scaled RE contracted capacity by 2.5 times
  • Set a target to scale up green energy mix to 34 percent of total power commitment by 2024

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”7775″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]“The commitment to move to 100 per cent renewable energy to meet our electrical energy requirements by 2050 is reflection of our confidence on the progress we have made, and our commitment to overcome the challenges ahead. With us now joining the RE100 group, UltraTech will become part of a high-profile global campaign that advocates for a strong business case in transitioning to renewable energy sources in building a decarbonized economy,” said Kailash Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dalmia Cement
Dalmia Cement committed to a SBT in August 2018 and become a carbon negative cement group by 2040. Dalmia was the first company globally to commit to the Climate Group’s RE100 campaign (100% renewable electricity use by 2030) and EP100 (doubling the energy productivity by 2030).

Priority is to replace the fossil-fuel based electricity through zero-carbon electricity generation technologies such as waste heat recovery (WHR) power generation systems
Has deployed a 9.2MW WHR system, generating electricity without fossil fuels.
About 7% of the electricity sourced by Dalmia Cement is based on renewable energy
At Dalmia Bharat Group level around 40% installed generation capacity is based on renewables
Three-pronged approach is to
To develop on-site fossil-free electricity generation facilities
Rooftop and ground-mounted solar energy plants and
Converting existing fossil-fuel-based captive power plants to re-generation by use of renewable biomass as a fuel[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”7776″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]“Being one of the greenest cement companies in the world, we are committed to decarbonizing our operations. Our presence as the first cement company in RE100 and EP100 illustrates our commitment on this issue. We are scaling up our ambition to double our energy productivity and make a long-term transition to 100% renewable power, achieving a fourfold increase in the percentage of renewable energy in our electricity consumption by 2030,” said Mahendra Singhi, Group CEO, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]JSW Cement
Globally, JSW Cement is the only heavy industry to accept all three business campaigns of the Climate Group RE100, EV100, and EP100 to build a renewable future. The circular economy principle is an integral part of our business model.

  • Committed to source 100% energy from Renewable energy sources, across all global operations by 2050
  • Committed to deploying all electric vehicles for transportation by 2030
  • Signed MOU with PRESPL to use agricultural waste as biomass energy in its cement-manufacturing operations
  • Has mapped decarbonization roadmap contributing to its Net Zero commitment by 2050
  • Signed the UN Energy Compact as per which JSW Cement have set a target of reaching 30% thermal substitution rate (TSR) by 2030
  • Focused efforts towards to include increasing fuel substitution and enhancing green & clean energy portfolios
  • Co-processed almost ~35000 T including ~9000 T of biomass waste to reach TSR of 7.1% vis-a-vis to 4.2% in 2020-21, representing an increase of 70%. This has led to not only reduction of their net CO2 emissions by ~40,000 T but also saved ~15000 T of coal.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”7777″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]“The circular economy principle is an integral part of our business model. Last year, we made a small beginning wherein nearly 5 percent of our fuel requirement was met through alternate fuels. Our collaboration with Punjab Renewable Energy Systems will help us strengthen our alternative fuel strategy with the introduction of biomass fuel in our operations. This will not only help us reduce our carbon emissions but enable us to help Indian farmers reap economic benefits from the agricultural waste while improving the ambient air quality,” said Parth Jindal, Managing Director, JSW Cement

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ambuja Cements
Developed 2030 carbon emission reduction targets, validated by Science Based Target Initiatives (SBTi)
Partnered with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) to implement a decarbonisation roadmap
Investing in clean energy efforts like:
Waste heat recovery system to reduce clinker factor
Energy efficiency (thermal & electrical)
Use of renewable energy from waste resources/alternative fuels, rainwater harvesting, and
Optimising fuel composition[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”7780″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]

“The mainstreaming of sustainability is the most significant affirmative action taken by the global cement industry. Our sustainability agenda and the roadmap to achieving Net Zero is closely aligned with Holcim’s commitment to become a net zero carbon company by 2050 that will be measured by clearly defined science-based targets. We’re investing in both products and processes to ensure everything we do at Ambuja Cements is aligned to this larger and long-term goal,” said Neeraj Akhoury, CEO Holcim and Managing Director & CEO, Ambuja Cements

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