Ambuja Cements Limited (ACL) has taken lead in the utilisation of industrial wastes in Cement production. Fly ash is a fine glass powder recovered from gases emitted by burning coal during the production of electricity. Fly ash is a major waste of coal-based thermal power plants. Fly ash disposal is a significant environmental concern as it creates huge pressures on land and water and fugitive emissions.
ACL is one of the largest companies in India to use fly ash in cement manufacturing and has set up Grinding Units at different parts of the country dedicated for the purpose.
The total quantity of fly ash to the tune of 4.7 MTPA is currently being used for production of Pozzolana cement. Eight Grinding Units are set up to exclusively use fly ash from nearby thermal power stations.
In 2009, about 91% of ACL's total cement production was PPC and just 9% OPC.
Production of slag-based cement and other blended cements by utilising some of the other industrial wastes has been envisaged in the forthcoming units. This has helped to reduce the clinker factor from 75.15 in 2006 to 69.13 in 2009.
With the above measures aimed at waste utilisation in cement making, we are able to achieve substantial reduction of CO2 emissions from our operations.
Ambuja Cements Ltd has made sustainability a way of life. This means adopting environmentally safe technologies and optimum utilisation and conversation of natural resources. Sustainable development focuses on economic, environmental and social performance.
- Corporate Sustainable Development Report 2010Download
- Corporate Sustainable Development Report 2009Download
- Corporate Sustainable Development Report 2008Download
- Corporate Sustainable Development Report 2007Download
Occupational Health & Safety is one of our core values of business. We recognise that the health and safety of our employees, subcontractors, third parties and visitors is vital to our business success. OH&S is integrated with our business processes spanning people, processes, systems, technologies and facilities. OH&S is driven through top management commitment and Visible Leadership across all levels.
Providing a safe workplace
To achieve our vision of "zero harm" to people, we have provided appropriate technology with stringent operational control practices across all operations. All operations are required systematically to implement a series of fatality prevention directives. The directives were developed by Holcim after an in-depth analysis of the major causes of fatalities and encompass hazard identification, risk assessment and controls, training, and maintenance and emergency procedures.
The ACL OH&S management system further guides this approach. Our health and safety policy has been rolled out across all operations and has been included as a key responsibility in line management and business performance. This policy goes beyond the workplace, to address OH&S issues related to Vehicle and Traffic Safety and home safety issues of our employees and their families. We have made significant progress in workplace and personnel safety by focusing on "Safety Observation Process". This intervention focuses on the behavioural Safety aspect of all personnel. Clear organisational accountabilities are supported by a robust program of training, communication and Risk Management processes. A systematic reporting system enables the top management to evaluate the overall direction and efficacy of the health and safety system and develop strategies for improving it. To that end, we compare our own health and safety results regularly with the goals we have set for ourselves and with available benchmarks for the cement sector.
Regular audits ensure that external and internal regulations/standards are implemented and complied with.
- Occupational Health & Safety PolicyDownload
- Occupational Health & Safety Cardinal RulesDownload
- Substance Abuse PolicyDownload
'Prakriti'
Started in 2010, this quarterly publication covers environment conservation efforts taken up during the quarter across ACL Production Plants. It is a platform to showcase and encourage the initiatives taken, while also communicating the latest happenings at the Policy level. In a way, the newsletter is a vehicle for cross-exchange of information.
