Holcim Lanka Ltd is beginning to use agricultural waste to generate power in the cement manufacturing process.

Speaking to the Daily News Business, Chairman of Holcim Lanka, Manilal Fernando, said that the company is using rice husks, straw, agricultural waste and other waste materials to generate power. "This initiative has helped the company to reduce production cost by almost 30%," he said.

Mr Fernando said that they are also currently doing research to save more energy by way of using building material waste to generate energy. He noted that by saving energy in the production process the company has been able to keep cement prices stable.