Petcoke import ban won't derail operations: ACC

The ban on use of imported petroleum coke (petcoke) in the national capital region (NCR) will not derail operations of ACC Cement, said a top company official.

“Petcoke has come across as a good fuel. The sulphur content in the fuel is neutralised with limestone by cement makers. But, it (the petcoke import ban) will not act as a derailer, though it will increase the cost. All ACC plants have the flexibility to use alternative sources of fuel," said Neeraj Akhoury, managing director & chief executive officer at ACC Ltd, part of the LafargeHolcim Group.

The environment ministry in a notification on last Friday had banned the use and sale of imported petroleum coke in the national capital region, in the latest effort to curb air pollution. In December, the Supreme Court had allowed the cement industry to use petroleum coke, after it was temporarily banned as pollution levels shot up in Delhi.

ACC Cement, on the other hand, is upbeat on positive impacts of the goods & service tax (GST) on the domestic cement sector. With 10 variants of cement products and ready-mixed products in its portfolio, ACC Cement has 10 per cent market share by volumes in the sector.

“The GST had a very little impact on the cement sector in the first two months of its implementation. We believe in the long term and the GST implementation will augur well for the sector”, Akhoury said.