Increasing competitive pressures, rising raw-material and energy prices coupled with stricter regulations for environmental protection are making efficient and sustainable use of resources a top challenge for the cement industry.

Environmental protection norms that have been revised and updated since 2014 are considered not too stringent going by global benchmarks. But the Indian industry and authorities are still in the process of finding a common ground.

The article highlights the new emission standards and online reporting protocol for cement plants and captive power plants.

To improve stack emissions day by day, stringent air pollution control norms imposed by CPCB have become a priority for cement plants operations. In the last two decades, pollution control norms and trends in India are reducing in every sectors.

In the last decade, technological advancement in cement industry has taken place with a steady uniform pace. In grinding area, close circuit pre-grinder in combination with close circuit tube mill has gained considerable popularity especially for capacity upgradation

In a landmark delivered on October 24, 2017 the Supreme Court bench comprising of Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta banned the use of dirty furnace oil and pet coke in Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh from November 1, 2017.

This, according to Ulhas Parlikar, Deputy Head, Geocycle India, involves levying prohibitive tax on the options of waste management that are not environmentally acceptable.

Cement plants can play a vital role in ‘Swachh Bharat’ mission through municipal solid waste (MSW) co-processing and converting it to refuse-derived fuel (RDF), thinks V Kannan, Counsellor, CII – Godrej Green Business Centre.

For many cement companies in India, AFR represents an important business opportunity because it reduces fuel costs and CO2 emissions. By dealing safely with wastes that are often difficult to dispose of in any other way, cement manufacturers are able to provide an important service to society.