Newsbytes from India

Indian cement companies begin exporting to Sri Lanka

South Indian cement manufacturers, India Cements Ltd, Ramco Cements Ltd and Dalmia Bharat Cement, have begun increasing their monthly dispatches and exporting cement to Sri Lanka. The new opportunity has arisen due to an increased attempt to participate in the reconstruction of the island following the civil war.

The export prospects in Sri Lanka have provided a small opportunity for the producers to shift some of the country’s excess cement caused by overcapacity. In July – September 2013, India Cements exported approximately 10 000 t to the island while Ramco Cements, which has been exporting cement to Sri Lanka for around 15 years, has recently upped its monthly exports from 6000 t to 10 000 t.

New CEO for Dalmia

Dalmia Bharat Limited has appointed Mr Mahendra Singhi as its new CEO as part of the company’s efforts to consolidate cement operations and build efficiencies while working with private equity investor KKR. Mr Singhi has 36 years’ experience in the cement sector, with 19 years spent at Shree Cement as the Executive Director. Furthermore, he serves as co-chair of the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) in India, is on the Board of Governors of the National Council for Cement & Building Materials and is a member of the Central Expert Technical Committee on the Cement Sector on PAT (Perform, Achieve and Trade) scheme of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.

Mr Singhi commented on his new position: "I am delighted at the opportunity to be part of Dalmia Cement as it embarks on the next phase of its growth and seeks to realise its immense potential. Looking at the culture of the organisation, I am confident that all team members would be able to further enhance the happiness and prosperity of all the stakeholders.”

Uttarakhand signs MoU for new cement plants

The industrial development department in Uttarakhand has signed a memorandum of understating (MoU) with UltraTech Cement Ltd for the commissioning of two new cement plants in the Dehradun and Almora districts. UltraTech Cement Ltd will reportedly invest Rs.5000 crore in the project. The cement plant in Tyuni, Dehradun district, will have a production capacity of 3.5 million tpa and the facility at Someshwar, Almora district, will have a capacity of 2 million tpa.

Edited from various sources by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/asia-pacific-rim/18122013/newsbytes-_from_india_528/