Q1. Could you start by giving us a brief overview of your professional background, particularly focusing on your expertise in the industry?

I have over two decades of experience in operations, supply chain, and plant management in the cement industry, focusing on operational excellence, cost optimization, and strategic growth. My expertise spans end-to-end plant operations, efficiency improvement, and market strategy.

Q2. How do you see demand for green cement or blended cement evolving in India—do you think it will remain a niche, or become mainstream?

Demand for green and blended cement is steadily moving from niche to mainstream, driven by government policies, sustainability push, and customer preference for eco-friendly products. Over the next decade, it will likely become a standard offering. GST simplification and reduction from 28% to 18% will also put focus on premium blended products to improve sales realisation.

Q3. What role do you see Industry 4.0, automation, and AI playing in improving plant efficiency, predictive maintenance, and energy optimization?

Industry 4.0 tools, automation, and AI enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and energy optimization, which help reduce downtime and improve productivity. Plants adopting these see significant gains in fuel efficiency and reliability.

Q4. In what ways are supply chain disruptions—energy costs, raw material availability, or logistics bottlenecks—reshaping manufacturing strategy for cement plants?

Supply chain disruptions have forced plants to diversify fuel sources, strengthen local raw material linkages, and redesign logistics strategies. Many manufacturers are focusing on multi-modal transport and long-term contracts to ensure stability.

Q5. What proportion of demand is typically driven by government infrastructure projects versus private real estate and industrial construction in your region?

Typically, around 60–65% of demand comes from government infrastructure and housing projects, while 35–40% is from private real estate and industrial segments. The ratio shifts depending on regional development cycles.

Q6. Which competitors do you think are moving fastest in premium cement or green cement adoption, and how is that influencing customer choices?

Players like Ultratech, Dalmia, and JSW are ahead in premium and green cement offerings, positioning themselves as sustainable brands. This is pushing others to upgrade portfolios to retain environmentally conscious customers.

Q7. If you were an investor looking at companies within the space, what critical question would you pose to their senior management?

As an investor, I would ask management how resilient their business model is to fuel and raw material volatility, and what their roadmap is for sustainable and differentiated products in the next 5–10 years.