India´s mining industry is growing by leaps and bounds. According to government data, in the year 2015-16, the country´s mining sector output recorded a growth of 9 per cent.

Ever since its foray into coastal transport, Ambuja has greatly enabled swifter transportation of bulk cement and brought many coastal markets within easy reach.

From the early days of human civilisation, habitats and trade centres developed around rivers. This was no accident. Rivers provided a source of water, the elixir of life; helped irrigate lands for farming and provided an easy solution for sanitation (although unacceptable by today´s standards).

Port-led industrial development of the country is the new mantra of the Modi government, where the emphasis is on usage of sea routes and waterways. This throws up fresh opportunities for the cement industry to reduce logistics costs.

Adding a pre-grinder to a ball mill has become a well-accepted design for improving plant performance. Due to two equally important reasons - reducing production costs and protecting the environment from generation of carbon dioxide

Ball mills are machines predominantly used for grinding in the cement industry. Although these mills have been in use for more than 100 years, their design is still being improved in order to reduce the grinding costs.

In cement plants, getting the best out of the equipment does not necessarily give the desired results. A close study through an optimisation exercise can do the job, says PR Raghavarao.

The cement rotary kiln [perhaps] is one of the cost effective options available to burn waste. It helps the industry and also the society at large.The success lies in the right policy framework.

The National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) has been pushing for the use of alternate fuels and raw materials in cement manufacture. Ashwani Pahuja, Director General, NCB, speaks on the role that the entity plays.