According to reports, India’s JSW Cement plans to more than triple its cement capacity to 20 million tpy by 2018. The company, which is part of the JSW Group, with interests in steel and energy, plans to grow through acquisitions and greenfield projects, with The Hindu reporting that the company will add 10 grinding units in different parts of the country in the next 3 years. Business Standard reports that the company plans to invest between Rs.8000 and Rs.9000 crore.
Though the Indian cement industry has been a little subdued of late, anticipated infrastructure projects should boost demand from October this year. JSW Cement expects capacity utilisation to grow to 70% in FY15/16. Its plants in Maharashtra and Karnataka are said to be running at full utilisation already, while those in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are operating at just 50 – 55% capacity utilisation.
The Hindu reports that JSW Cement is planning two or three grinding units in West Bengal, Vijayanagar (Karnataka), Dolvi (Maharashtra), Odisha and Tamil Nadu, with a capacity of 1.2 million tpy. This comprises an expansion of existing facilities in Vijayanagar and Dolvi and new units in the other locations. Work on the expansion projects is reportedly set to begin within 3 months.
JSW Cement could also be a contender for Lafarge assets being disposed in Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh.
Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui