Cement makers cheer as Supreme Court lifts ban

Cement manufacturers breathed a sigh of relief after the Supreme Court of India lifted its ban on the use of petroleum coke in the cement and limestone industries. The order stated that “pet coke should be utilized only in industries where sulphur is absorbed in the manufacturing process, for example, [in the] cement industry, [and] gasification plants.”

The ban on pet coke first came into place in October 2017 in an attempt to address Delhi’s severe air pollution.

Sanjeev Kapoor, a partner at Khaitan & Co who represented the cement companies, told India Business Law Journal that the industry was one of very few where combustion and emissions are controlled, meaning that pet coke usage was not harmful. “Interestingly, the usage of pet coke, unlike coal, in the cement industry not only improves the efficiency of the manufacturing process, but also helps in the conservation of valuable natural resources like gypsum and limestone,” he said. “Since none of the cement industries are located in the National Capital Region, they were affected by the ban only when it was extended to Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.”