Cement, Energy and Environment

problems galore - power cuts, scarce electrification hours, and expensive rates. These are issues that programmes like the LaBL campaign by TERI are trying to overcome. The programme, which started in 2008 and illuminates rural households having no access to electricity, has lighted about 30 000 households spread over 550 villages across 15 Indian states. Courtesy: TERISCOPE, July-August 2010, P11 . CHINA BANGLADESH JV TO PRODUCE LOW COST SOLAR PANELS A JV between a Chinese and a Bangladeshi company will produce low cost, but more efficient solar panels to tap the country's growing market for green energy, especially among the rural population. The JV of Bangladeshi Auto Power Private Limited and Chinese Zhejiang Jinxi Solar Energy Equipment Company Limited is expected to start production early next year. A factory has already been set up in Gazipur to produce the low-cost solar panels ranged between 50W to 1500W for low to high demanding customers. The factory will produce small to big solar panels at prices ranged between 50W to 1500W for low to high demanding customers. The factory will produce small to big solar panels at prices ranged between Taka 15000 to 400000, which will be cheaper than the products now available in the market. Courtesy: TERI(The Energy & Resources Institute) Newswire, 16-30 September 2010, P23. 30 000 SOLAR HOME SYSTEMS BEING INSTALLED IN BANGLADESH MONTHLY Every month more than 30 000 SHS are being installed in Bangladesh in a bid to reduce GHG emissions and ensure sustainable development in the energy sector. Every month the SHSs are adding one and a half megawatt of electricity. IDCOL along with other NGOs are engaged in installing SHSs. To promote installation of the system, IDCOL received € 2.2 million as grant from GTZ of Germany. Earlier, it got € 3.44 million grant from GTZ. Courtesy: TERI(The Energy and Resources Institute) Newswire, 16-31 Oct. 2010, P18. Environment LAFARGE TO SET HIGHEST ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AT MEGHALAYA CEMENT UNIT Supratim Dey Guwahati, 8 November Lafarge has said the company would maintain highest standards to protect the environment at the proposed cement plant site at Nongkhlei village in the lime-stone-rich Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. The proposed 1.1-million tonne integrated cement plant, which would probably be the largest-ever private sector investment in the region , hit a roadblock with a section of locals opposing it on environmental grounds. A senior company official told Business Standard a section of locals was "shortcircuiting" the whole process by not adhering to the prescribed procedure according to law to air one's grievances. "There is a clear procedure for everything. The project is at a very preliminary stage. There will be a public hearing and also environment assessment done in due course. If they have any concerns, they can air them at the right forum and at the right time. Any apprehension raised at this stage about the environmental impact of the project is premature and unfounded. By opposing it at this stage, they are killing the child before it is born." The company plans to pump Rs. 1,000 crore into the project Adding: "The project is going to maintain the highest standards of environmental protection and use scientific mining techniques as per the best international practices, given Lafarge's experience in operating across 78 countries around the world." Recently, hundreds of villagers of Nongkhlieh foiled a move by district council officials to survey the area and warned against issuing a no-objection certificate to the company. The company plans to pump Rs. 1,000 crore into the project. "We went there only after we were granted permission by the local Durbar (traditional tribal village council). Next, a detailed MoU has been signed. So, to oppose it at this stage is both premature and unfounded," the official added. A company statement said: "the company is fully committed to environmental protection and total compliance with all environmental and other statutory regulations. Besides, 76 --