India: calls to assist cement plants in energy conservation

Executive director of Dalmia Cement, R A Krishnakumar, has called for a special package of concessions, particularly in taxes, for cement factories in an attempt to encourage them to adopt energy conservation measures.

Mr Krishnakumar said at the second ‘Energy efficiency technologies in cement and manufacturing sector’ conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry that there had been a marked improvement in the cement industry bringing in efficiency measures through the adoption of latest equipment and technology. There was a four per cent reduction in the use of conventional raw materials and it was noted that there is a growing awareness of the importance of energy conservation among stakeholders, although there is still more to be done.

The Union Ministry of Energy and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s Perform, Achieve, Trade (PAT) scheme to promote energy efficiency was applauded by My Krishnakumar.

Ulhas Parikar, deputy head of Geocycle India, addressed the conference to speak on the maximum utilisation of waste products in wealth creation. He suggested that cement plants should adopt the co-processing technique to help reduce the emission of hazardous elements and reduce wastage of raw materials.