Possible relief from petcoke ban for India’s cement sector?

The Indian Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) is likely to exempt the cement industry from the partial petcoke ban for industrial use, according to a report in The Hindustan Times.

The government has moved forward a proposal as Solicitor General A Nadkarni informed the Supreme Court that the use of petcoke in the cement industry was minimal and for non-fuel purposes, according to the report. “It is used as a de-sulphuring agency. Therefore, the ministry has decided to have a relook into its decision and allow the cement units to use it,” he said.

However, the exemption would only be granted for a year while the cement industry is given time to switch to a cleaner fuel.