Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Jyotiraditya Scindia appreciates cement industry’s efforts in achieving impressive growth – inaugurates International Seminar on Cement & Building Materials
  
Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, while inaugurating the 11th International Seminar on Cement and Building Materials, here today has complemented the cement industry for weathering the downturn and recording a commendable growth of around 8% in 2007-08 as well as 2008-09. He also appreciated the impressive growth achieved by the construction industry, which is the second largest economic activity in India after agriculture and has grown at an annual rate of 9 to 10 percent. The 4-day (17-20 November) Seminar is being organized by the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB). Others who addressed the seminar were Shri M. Vasudeva, Director General, NCB and Smt. Vinita Singhania, President, Cement Manufacturers Association.

The Minister informed the gathering that the Indian cement industry, the second largest after China, has achieved an installed capacity of 242 million tonnes at present and is targeted to reach 300 million tonnes by 2011-2012 and 600 million by 2020. “The initiatives taken by Indian cement industry towards waste utilization are evident from the fact that production of blended cements in the country in the year 2008-09 was as high as 74% as against only 36% in 2000-01”, he added.

On the energy conservation front, Shri Scindia observed that the best levels achieved by the industry, namely of 687 kilo calories per kg of clinker and 66 kWh per tonne cement are at par with the best achieved levels in the world. The Minister commended the industry’s efforts towards control of emissions, preservation of ecology and voluntary initiatives such as corporate responsibility for environmental protection. On the technological front, he said that the Indian cement industry has largely adopted state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies, systems for co-generation of power etc.

Delivering the presidential address, Smt Vinita Singhania underlined the importance of sustainable development in various aspects of cement manufacturing and its utilization. Shri M Vasudeva during his address on technological status and prospects of the Indian cement industry said that mitigation of global warming and sustainable development will have to be the guiding philosophies behind all developmental activities in future and “conserve, recycle and renew” will form the three vital components of the growth strategy for any industry.

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