Cement, Energy & Environment Jan-Mar 2002

- / • The Central Government may, by notification, in consultation with Bureau: (a) Specify norms for the processes and energy consumption standards for any equipment, appliance which consumes, generates, transmits or supplies energy; (b) Specify equipment or appliances or class of equipment and appliances as the case may be for the purpose of the Act; (c) Prohibit manufacture or sale or purchase or import of the equipment or appliance specified under clause (b), unless such equipment or appliance conforms to energy conservation standards; (d) Establish and prescribe norms and standards for designated consumers as it may consider necessary; (e) Specify, having regard to the intensity or quantity of energy consumed and the amount of investment required for switching over to energy efficien t equipment and capacity of industry to invest in it and availability of the energy efficient machinery and equipment required by the industry, and user or class of users of energy as a designated consumer for the purpose of this Act; (f) Direct energy intensive industries and owner of the building or building complex to get the energy audit conducted by an accredited energy auditor in such manner and intervals of time as may be specified by regulations. • The Act also stipulates for the state governments to constitute a Fund in their respective states to be called the 'State Energy Conservation Fund' for the promotion of efficient use of energy and its conservation. Courtesy: TIDE (Teri Information Digest on Energy), Sept. 2001, P- 213. E-mail: outreach@teri.res.in Web: www.teriin.org CEMENT INDUSTRY HAILS MEDIUM TERM STRATEGY TO BOOST EXPORTS The government of India proposes to allow: • • • Duty free import of coal to 40% of cement export Customs duty on coal at 15% (without surcharge) Withdrawal by railways of levy of Rs. 17/ PMT as custom examination charges from cement exporters And the government would also look into to: • Lower the freight rates by railways on cement exported to Bangladesh. • Extending of the FTA facility to exports to Africa, Mauritius etc. • The n eed to convince Sri Lankan government to levy 0-5 per cent customs duty on Indian Cement as preferential treatment enjoyed erstwhile under Indo– Sri Lanka FTA; also to take up the similar issue with Bangladesh. • Rebates in state levies: royalties on coal, limestone and gypsum, tax on power tariff, sales tax on consumables and spares used in cement. Courtesy: Medium Term Export Strategy Document Dept. of Commerc~, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GOI, Jan. 2002. 55