The Mamata Banerjee government s efforts to attract investment to the state seem to be bearing fruit. Ambuja Cement (ACL), the subsidiary of global cement major Holcim of Switzerland, has evinced interest to set up a third unit in Bengal. The company has plants in Sankrail and Farakka.
State commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee said the cement major was looking for a greenfield unit in Bengal. The minister was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme to kickstart expansion of the company s grinding unit in Sankrail.
"They are in talks to set up a plant near Bandel in Hooghly. This will boost industrialization in the state," he said. Chatterjee said that ACL would invest close to Rs 225 crore for the new unit. "They already have some land there and will buy the rest," he added.
ACL, one of the leading cement manufacturing companies in India, started cement production in 1986. In 2006, global cement major Holcim acquired management control of ACL. Its current cement capacity is 27.25 million tonnes. The firm has five integrated cement manufacturing plants and eight cement grinding units across the country.
Ajay Kapur, ACL CEO, said that the company was actively looking for a third plant in Bengal. "We are looking at some options. The size of the plant would be 1-1.5 million tonnes," he added.
Commenting on expansion of the Sankrail unit, Kapur said that it includes an investment of Rs 325 crore and will increase the capacity from its present level of 1.5 million tonnes per annum to 2.4 million tonnes per annum. "This is a moment of great pride and achievement for all of us at Ambuja. Since the time the plant was launched in 2000, we have crossed one milestone after another and have made steady progress," Kapur added.
Business head SN Toshniwal recalls the growth of this unit. "From the very beginning of its manufacturing operation, Sankrail unit left a strong footprint in the region by providing the best quality cement available in India." While the construction was completed in a record time of nine months, commercial production commenced in February 2001. ACC, another Holcim Group firm, also has a grinding unit in Purulia. The Sankrail unit of ACL was one of the most advanced cement plants in the region.
Besides Bengal, ACL is also looking at setting up a 5-m integrated cement plant in Rajasthan. "We are actively pursuing the Rajasthan project with an annual capacity of 5 million tonnes. It will meet demands of the northern region," Kapur added.
On the eve of 2013, Bengal got some solace in the industrial front. Ambuja Cement, the subsidiary of global cement major Holcim of Switzerland, has evinced interest to set up third unit in the state. Now the company has a grinding unit at Sankrail in Howrah. The state commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee told reporters after kick starting the expansion of Sankrail unit that the global cement major is looking for a greenfield unit in Bengal.
"They are in discussion for setting up a plant near Bandel in Hooghly. This will boost industrialisation in the state," he said. Chatterjee added that ACL would invest close to Rs 225 crore for the grinding unit. "They already have some land there and the rest it would buy," he said. Incidentally, ACL is one of the leading cement manufacturing companies in India and commenced cement production in 1986. In 2006, global cement major Holcim, acquired management control of ACL. Its current cement capacity is 27.25 million tonnes. The Company has 5 integrated cement manufacturing plants and 8 cement grinding units across the country. Later on while talking to TOI, ACL CEO, Ajay Kapur said that it is actively looking for a third plant in Bengal. "We are looking at options and the size of the plant would be 1-1.5 million tonne," he added. Currently ACL has plants in Sankrail and Farakka. Commenting on expansion of Sankrail, Kapur added that it includes an investment of Rs 325 crore where the capacity would increase from its present level of 1.5 million tonne per annum to 2.4 million tonne cement per annum. "This is a moment of great pride and achievement for all of us at Ambuja. From the launch of this plant in 2000, we have crossed one milestone after another and have made steady progress.," he added.
Business Head SN Toshniwal recalls the growth of this unit. "From the very beginning of its manufacturing operation, Sankrail unit put a strong footprint in the region by providing the best quality cement available in India." Construction was completed in a record time of nine months and commercial production commenced in February 2001. Incidentally, ACC, another Holcim Group firm too has a grinding unit in the state at Purulia. The Sankrail unit of ACL was one of the most advanced cement plants in the region.
Besides Bengal, it is looking to set up a 5 mt integrated cement plant in Rajasthan. "We are also actively pursuing on the Rajasthan project with an annual capacity of 5 mln tn. It will service the demand from the northern region," Kapur added.
