Executive Summary:
This document addresses the usage of fly ash in cement manufacturing in India. It provides details on fly ash generation and utilization, compliance with quality standards, and monitoring mechanisms. The document includes data from Financial Years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25, and references the Ash Utilization Notification, 2021 and the Cement Quality Control Order, 2003.
Key Points / Main Content:
Ash Utilization and Generation:
* The Ash Utilization Notification, 2021 mandates 100% utilization of ash (including fly ash and bottom ash) by coal/lignite-based Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) for eco-friendly purposes, including cement manufacturing.
* Annexure I provides state/UT-wise data on ash generation by TPPs and the percentage utilized by cement manufacturing units for FY 2022-23, FY 2023-24, and FY 2024-25.
Fly Ash Quality and Standards:
* The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 1986, ensures cement quality through the Cement Quality Control Order, 2003, prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and distribution of non-conforming cement.
* IS 1489 Part 1:2015 mandates that fly ash used in Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) must conform to IS 3812 Part 1: 1981.
Monitoring and Enforcement:
* The Cement Quality Control Order, 2003 mandates manufacturers of cement to obtain license from the Bureau of Indian Standards for use of Standard Mark.
* An authority specified under the Cement Quality Control Order, 2003 is responsible for implementing the order, including inspecting documents, requiring information and samples, and seizing non-compliant cement.
Impact Analysis:
Thermal Power Plants (TPPs):
* Impact: Required to achieve 100% ash utilization as per the Ash Utilization Notification, 2021.
* Action Required: Implement measures to ensure complete ash utilization in prescribed eco-friendly ways, including supplying fly ash to cement manufacturers.
Cement Manufacturers:
* Impact: Must use fly ash conforming to IS 3812 Part 1: 1981 when producing Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) and adhere to the Cement Quality Control Order, 2003.
* Action Required: Obtain licenses from BIS, ensure fly ash quality compliance, and cooperate with inspections under the Cement Quality Control Order, 2003.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):
* Impact: Responsible for setting and enforcing cement quality standards.
* Action Required: Maintain and update relevant Indian Standards (e.g., IS 1489, IS 3812) and oversee the licensing and inspection process for cement manufacturers.
Enforcement Authorities:
* Impact: Mandated to implement and enforce the Cement Quality Control Order, 2003.
* Action Required: Conduct inspections, gather information, seize non-compliant cement, and issue directions to manufacturers/dealers to ensure compliance.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change policies.
Fly Ash: A byproduct of burning pulverized coal in thermal power plants, used in cement manufacturing and other applications.
Thermal Power Plants (TPPs): Power plants that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels like coal or lignite.
Ash Utilization Notification, 2021: A notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change mandating 100% utilization of ash generated by thermal power plants.
IS 3812: Indian Standard for fly ash quality, specifically regarding its use as pozzolana in cement, cement mortar, and concrete.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): The national standards body of India responsible for formulating and implementing standards for various products, including cement.
Cement Quality Control Order, 2003: An order issued by the Central Government to regulate the manufacture, sale, and distribution of cement to ensure it conforms to specified standards.
Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC): A type of cement manufactured with fly ash.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3487
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
Fly Ash Usage in Cement Manufacturing
3487. SHRI G LAKSHMINARAYANA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the total quantity of fly ash generated by thermal power plants in the country during the
last three years and the percentage of fly ash utilised by the cement manufacturing units,
State/UT wise;
(b) the number of thermal power plants found non-compliant with IS 3812 standards for
fly ash quality during the same period along with the number of inspections conducted
annually, State/UT-wise;
(c) whether substandard fly ash has been reported to compromise the quality of cement or
construction outputs and whether any testing or impact assessment studies have been
conducted in this regard, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any central mechanism exists to monitor, certify and ensure the quality of fly
ash used in cement plants; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, whether the Government is considering for
introducing a national traceability and quality monitoring system for fly ash usage?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) Ash Utilization Notification, 2021 notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on 31.12.2021 mandates coal or lignite based Thermal Power
Plants (TPPs) to achieve 100% utilisation of ash, including fly ash and bottom ash, in the
prescribed eco-friendly purposes and in prescribed timelines. Use of ash in cement
manufacturing and ready mix concrete is one of the eco-friendly purposes prescribed under the
Notification.
State/UT-wise details of quantity of ash (including fly ash and bottom ash) generated by TPPs
and percentage of ash utilised by the cement manufacturing units in the country during the last
three years i.e. Financial Year (FY) 2022-23, FY 2023-24, and FY 2024-25 are enclosed at
Annexure-I.
(b) and (c) No such information is available with Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Bureau of Indian Standards.(d) and (e) Central Government has notified the Cement (Quality Control) Order, 2003 under
the powers conferred by section 14 of Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 and it prohibits
manufacture, sale and distribution of cement which does not conform to Specified Standard
issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards and which do not bear the standard mark.
In this regard, Bureau of Indian Standards has issued Indian Standard (IS) 1489 (Part 1):2015
for ‘Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)-Fly Ash Based’ which mandates that fly ash used in the
manufacture of Portland-Pozzolana Cement shall conform to IS 3812 (Part 1) : 1981 for ‘Use
as Pozzolana in Cement, Cement Mortar and Concrete’.
Further, as per the Cement (Quality Control) Order, 2003, manufacturers of cement shall be
required to obtain license from the Bureau of Indian Standards for use of Standard Mark.
An appropriate authority specified under the Cement (Quality Control) Order, 2003 has been
mandated to implement the provisions of this Order which inter alia include:
(i) inspection of any documents or cement kept by or belonging to or in possession or
under the control of any person engaged in the manufacture, storage for sale, sale
or distribution of cement;
(ii) require any person to give such information as necessary or to furnish samples of
cement;
(iii) enter and search any premises and seize cement where it has reason to believe that
the contravention to this Order has been made or the said cement is not of the
prescribed standard;
(iv) powers to issue directions to the manufacturers, dealers or sellers for carrying out
the purpose of the Order.
****Annexure-I
State/UT-wise details of quantity of ash generated by thermal power plants in the
country (including fly ash and bottom ash) during the last three years i.e. FY 2022-23,
FY 2023-24, and FY 2024-25, and the percentage of ash utilised by the cement
manufacturing units
(in lakh Metric Tonnes)
FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25
Ash Ash Utilization Ash Ash Utilization Ash Ash Utilization
Generation in Cement Generation in Cement Generation in Cement
Manufacturing Manufacturing Manufacturing
State
Andhra 163.46 63.31 184.97 74.65 166.05 61.00
Pradesh (38.7%) (40.4%) (36.7%)
10.25 5.06 11.74 5.99 10.60 6.95
Assam
(49.4%) (51%) (65.6%)
125.63 36.86 151.78 36.48 172.52 39.47
Bihar
(29.3%) (24%) (22.9%)
463.82 49.58 522.96 53.19 532.84 49.95
Chhattisgarh
(10.7%) (10.2%) (9.4%)
91.34 48.48 99.76 39.16 91.21 31.31
Gujarat
(53.1%) (39.3%) (34.3%)
81.78 61.26 78.42 47.38 85.14 50.58
Haryana
(74.9%) (60.4%) (59.4 %)
101.87 32.87 133.83 41.02 143.83 41.90
Jharkhand
(32.3%) (30.7%) (29.1%)
90.78 43.76 114.28 52.21 107.75 48.18
Karnataka
(48.2%) (45.7%) (44.7%)
321.38 71.78 335.21 76.06 302.05 70.13
Maharashtra
(22.3%) (22.7%) (23.2%)
Madhya 309.04 69.05 321.81 74.99 310.18 73.04
Pradesh (22.3%) (23.3%) (23.5%)
390.67 37.08 389.75 46.83 391.38 47.43
Odisha
(9.5%) (12%) (12.1%)
80.69 45.45 81.71 48.65 78.36 46.01
Punjab
(56.3%) (59.5%) (58.7%)
123.99 70.09 134.95 82.60 127.24 71.49
Rajasthan
(56.5%) (61.2%) (56.2%)
195.12 40.39 146.87 58.13 143.88 63.40
Tamil Nadu
(20.7%) (39.6%) (44.1%)
138.91 30.49 152.17 34.07 158.21 30.23
Telangana
(21.9%) (22.4%) (19.1%)
Uttar 356.16 91.61 363.78 105.96 389.37 115.09
Pradesh (25.7%) (29.1%) (29.6%)
231.90 88.50 233.92 92.06 177.11 69.38
West Bengal
(38.2%) (39.4%) (39.2%)