Indian and Norwegian scientists and industry representatives met in New Delhi on 10 November to explore joint technologies that would turn cement and construction waste into usable resources.
The India–Norway Dialogue on "Waste to Resource Solutions in the Cement and Construction Sector" was organised by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Norway's SINTEF research group and the Research Council of Norway at the India Habitat Centre. Participants included CSIR institutes, regulators and cement and construction companies.
Why the two countries are talking
The dialogue followed the India–Norway "Green Strategic Partnership" announced when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Norway in May, which puts the circular economy, clean technology and research at its centre.
CSIR-CBRI Director R. Pradeep Kumar spoke of moving from a linear to a circular economy and turning construction and industrial waste into valuable resources.
What was discussed
- Raw materials: uses of construction and demolition waste, steel slag, fly ash, red mud and other industrial residues, and the challenges of processing technology, standards, cost and market acceptance.
- Hazardous waste: SINTEF's Kåre Helge Karstensen and CSIR-NEERI's Ramesh Kumar led a session on destroying persistent organic pollutants (POPs), DDT- and PCB-contaminated material in cement kilns at high temperatures, while replacing fossil fuels with waste-derived fuels. Speakers stressed technical protocols, controlled trials and emission monitoring.
- Roads and building products: CSIR-CRRI and CSIR-AMPRI described using fly ash, copper slag, red mud, plastic waste and steel grit in road construction, geopolymer concrete and specialised aggregates.
- Recycling: a session led by SINTEF's Christian John Engelsen covered international practice in recycled-aggregate construction.
What happens next
The talks stressed joint, technology-led proposals involving CSIR institutes, SINTEF and industry partners. No funding, projects or timelines were announced.
Photos
Source: official release by the Ministry of Science & Technology, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (11 NOV 2026 10:38AM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: India and Norway Explore Joint Technologies to Turn Industrial Waste into Resources for Sustainable Construction.
How we verified this
VerifiedEvery fact, figure and quotation is taken from the official PIB release (Release ID 2334888) issued by the Ministry of Science & Technology on 11 NOV 2026 10:38AM by PIB Delhi; checked against the source on publication. Story written by BDT from that release; no outside facts added.
Sources
- 1.India and Norway Explore Joint Technologies to Turn Industrial Waste into Resources for Sustainable Construction — Press Information Bureau, Government of India
