Displaying items by tag: Dalmia Bharat

India: Dalmia Bharat sold 22.2Mt of cement in its 2022 financial year, up by 7.2% year-on-year from 20.7Mt in the 2021 financial year. During the year, Dalmia Bharat recorded earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$314m, down by 11% year-on-year from US$356m in the 2021 year. The producer says that it is 'on track' to achieve a capacity of 48.5Mt/yr by the end of the 2023 financial year.

Speaking about the company's fourth-quarter 2022 financial year performance, managing director and chief executive officer Mahendra Singhi said "Through proactive cost containment measures, our teams have successfully mitigated the adverse inflationary impact and delivered one of the lowest total cost per ton of cement alongside a volume growth in-line with the industry. The recent strong recovery in demand and prices across all our operating regions is highly encouraging." Singhi continued "While the margins may continue to remain under pressure, we are undertaking proactive measures to retain our cost leadership and deliver sustainable earnings growth."

India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) plans to invest US$38.9m in an upgrade to 2.5Mt/yr Belagavi cement plant. The work will consist of a capacity expansion and the installation of a new 9MW solar power plant at the facility. The latter is expected to halve the plant's grid electricity consumption. When commissioned in March 2024, the expanded plant will directly and indirectly employ 700 additional people.

India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Denmark-based FLSmidth to collaborate in the research and development of sustainable solutions for cement manufacturing. The agreement has been arranged under the ‘Green Strategic Partnership’ initiatives between Denmark and India that cover energy and climate change.

Under the MOU both companies will cooperate on a range of areas such as substituting conventional energy supplies with renewable sources and working towards CO₂ emissions abatement. Both companies have committed to contributing research and development towards eventually building an industrial scale production plant where the new concepts can be further tested.

Mahendra Singhi, the managing director and chief executive officer of Dalmia Cement (Bharat) said, “In alignment with the ambitious net zero vision of our Prime Minister Narendra Modiji and given the strength and stature of our respective organisations, this association will provide futuristic solutions to the cement and concrete industry to emerge clean and green.” He added that India and Dalmia Cement in particular were keen to develop a roadmap for the implementation of Industry 4.0 with totally decarbonised cement plants and a ‘lighthouse’ cement plant.

India: Dalmia Bharat Group’s refractories subsidiary Dalmia-OCL has consolidated its businesses as Dalmia Bharat Refractories. The company said that the consolidation aims to strengthen the businesses’ financial standing, increase investment capabilities and positioning the new entity as a trustworthy and long-term partner for its customers in the cement industry.

Dalmia Bharat Refractories managing director and CEO Sameer Nagpal said "Our refractory business was divided into different companies which resulted in division of our financial, managerial and technical resources. This consolidation will lead into a more centralised, efficient and a robust management system with a stronger resource base for the future. The formation of Dalmia Bharat Refractories will allow us to offer a wider portfolio of products and services and deeper client relationships.” Nagpal added that the consolidation ‘Will enable us to become an alternative supply source to China in international markets.’

India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) has received clearance from the High Court of Andhra Pradesh to resume operations at its Kadapa cement plant. The producer had filed a writ against an order by the Andhra Pradesh Board Control Board (APPCB) to suspend production at the 2.5Mt/yr plant on 29 January 2021.

India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) has commissioned a 14.7MW solar power plant at its 1.3Mt/yr Kapilas grinding plant in Odisha. The producer says that the new power plant multiplies its total solar power capacity in Cuttack District by six to 17.1MW from 2.4MW.

The company said "Furthering Dalmia Cement (Bharat)'s sustainability goal of becoming carbon negative by 2040, this initiative will enhance the plant's energy efficiencies."

India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) has reported a 59.2% decline in its consolidated net profit to US$9.7m for the three months to 31 December 2021. The company had posted a net profit of US$23.6m during the corresponding quarter of 2020. The company reported that its revenue for the quarter was almost unchanged year-on-year at US$363m. The company’s cement sales volumes fell to 5.7Mt during the quarter compared to 5.8Mt in a year earlier.

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Managing Director and chief executive officer (CEO) Mahendra Singhi said, “Margins during the quarter were impacted due to a significant inflation in the energy prices and market weakness in core regions of our operation. However, beginning in mid-December, things have started to look good. To mitigate the impact of external exigencies, we are working to further strengthen our operational efficiencies and explore avenues for cost rationalisation.”

India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) has commenced cement production at its upgraded 2.9Mt/yr Murli cement plant in Maharashtra. The company invested US$125m to install a new fueling system, waste heat recovery (WHR) plant and solar power plant at the facility. It acquired the plant from Murli Industries for US$55.2m in 2020.

The new commissioning brings Dalmia Cement (Bharat)’s total installed capacity to 35.9Mt/yr.

India: Locals in Odisha’s Malkangiri district gathered in the town of Katamataru on 9 January 2022 to protest plans for the establishment of a new Dalmia Cement (Bharat) cement plant in the area. The New Indian Express newspaper has reported that protestors allege that the state government did not conduct the proper tendering procedures for the proposed plant. More than 2000 people, wielding traditional tribal weaponry, gathered at an assembly. They resolved not to vote at upcoming village council elections if the government continues not to listen to their objections.

India: First Construction Council and the Indian Cement Review have named Dalmia Cement Bharat managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Mahendra Singhi as Person of the Year at the Cement Expo on Cementing India’s Future for the 2022 financial year. Singhi won the title for his exemplary contribution towards transformational changes in the Indian and global cement sectors, significantly facilitating the transition to a more circular economy. Singhi is the previous president of the Indian Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) and the previous chair of the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM). He has achieved recognition as a Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 Business Leader and a World Bank Group Carbon Pricing Champion.

Singhi said “I am honoured to receive this award on behalf of people with whom I worked in the last 43 years in various companies who have shaped my clean and sustainable journey and I dedicate this award to them. I feel fortunate that I have been able to have visionary mentors and committed colleagues who could support my cemented journey.” He added “I am hopeful about the future as we transition towards newer business models that will drive us to remain profitable, ensure value creation and, at the same time, achieve environmental sustainability.”