India: To accelerate industrial growth and generate employment, the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) cleared 36 investment proposals worth US$172m at its meeting on 24 June 2026. The largest proposal was from UltraTech Cement, which will set up a 3.5Mt/yr cement plant in the industrial area at Katoria, Bihar, with an investment of US$66.8m. The project is reportedly expected to boost infrastructure and create jobs in the region.

Egypt: Titan Egypt has signed a power purchase agreement with SolarizEgypt to facilitate the construction of an 11.5MW solar farm. SolarizEgypt will build the photovoltaic farm to supply Beni Suef Cement, Titan Egypt’s subsidiary. The solar company will also take care of the financing, ownership, operation and maintenance of the plant. The renewable energy will reportedly cover ‘a significant portion’ of Beni Suef’s electricity consumption.

Pakistan: All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has welcomed a multi-agency crackdown against an illegal cement plant operating under the name Red Bull Cement near Lahore. Upon inspection, authorities found the plant to be operating without mandatory approvals, registrations, environmental clearances and other statutory permissions required under law. Operations were subsequently suspended and the premises shut down. The Nation newspaper said that illegal cement manufacturing not only causes substantial losses through tax evasion, but also undermines fair competition by bypassing the environmental, quality, safety and regulatory requirements that compliant manufacturers are obligated to meet.

Egypt: Misr Cement will increase its reliance in alternative fuels at its Qena and Minya plants, according to Reuters. It said that it is targeting investments in alternative fuel projects of between US$7m-US$8m in the initial phase for each plant, and hopes to improve operational efficiency, environmental sustainability and reduce costs.