India: The total new waste heat recovery (WHR) unit capacity of cement producers is expected to reach 175MW in the two years ending on 31 March 2022. Rating agency ICRA has valued the total investment in new WHR units over the period as up to US$230m, according to the Press Trust of India. A market report by ICRA reports that power generation using WHR costs around US$0.02/kWh compared to US$0.7/kWh from a captive coal power plant. Cement companies that replace 25% of total power capacity with WHR can potentially save around 15% from existing power costs.

Turkey: Builders have declared a one-day ‘strike’ on 2 September 2021 to protest against high cement prices. The Turkish Builders Confederation (IMKON) told the government that, though the prices of all commodities rose following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the cement price rise is disproportionate, according to the Dünya newspaper. Producers responded that they have recorded sharp increases in input prices. Electricity costs rose by 64% year-on-year in July 2021, while coal costs more than doubled over the same period.

India: Ambuja Cement has saved 70Ml of water since the beginning of 2020 through the installation of rooftop rainwater harvesting systems at 268 construction sites across India.

Neeraj Akhoury, the chief executive officer of Ambuja Cement, said "The scope and opportunities for creating a sustainable future are immense. As part of the global organisation, Holcim, Ambuja Cement's ambition is to be a part of the solution to the sustainability challenges faced today. I am pleased with the progress that we have made through our efforts, and we will continue to put into action bolder plans for emission reduction, resource optimisation and water conservation to build a sustainable India."

Iraq: The Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court has sentenced former Iraqi Cement executive director Baha Abed and general manager Ali Hadi to six years in prison. According to the National Iraqi News Agency, Abed appointed Hadi as general manager in exchange for Hadi referring the company’s equipment contracts to Abed’s own companies.