JSW Cement, a part of $11 billion JSW Group, is planning to set up 10 grinding units in different parts of the country to triple its cement and clinker capacities to 20 million tonnes per annum by 2018.
As per the proposal, JSW Cement would set up two or three grinding units in West Bengal, Vijayanagar (Karnataka), Dolvi (Maharashtra), Odisha and Tamil Nadu with an capacity of 1.2 million tonnes per annum.
It is an expansion of existing facilities at Vijayanagar and Dolvi, while new units are being set up in other places. Tuticorin has been identified as one of the sites in Tamil Nadu.
Anil Kumar Pillai, JSW Cement Chief Executive Officer, said the company was all set to commence the work at Vijayanagar and Dolvi within the next three months as it had land and environment clearances in place. Land had to be selected for West Bengal and Odisha units.
Pointing out that the cement industry was going through a sluggish condition, due to a surplus stock of 40-45 million tonnes, he said it would be eliminated within the next two years due to the take-off of new infrastructure projects.
“We are using the current situation to our advantage to build new grinding units and to expand the existing ones. It will take roughly 36 months to complete the projects. By 2018, when the demand picks up, we will be in a position to meet the demand for our portland slag cement and grounded granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS),” he said.
