Cement output up 8.4%

Cement production in West Bengal grew by 8.4 per cent compared to an India average of 9.8 per cent during 2006-07.

Cement production in the state had registered 5.5 per cent rise during 2005-06.

The installed cement capacity in the state was nearly 4 million ton per annum (mtpa).

Demand growth had encouraged major producers in the state to take up expansion plans, with Gujarat Ambuja setting up a 1mtpa cement plant at Farakka in Murshidabad and Lafarge adding a greenfield unit of 1mtpa at Bankura.

Durgapur High Tech Cement in the process of adding 1mtpa capacity adjacent to its existing plant in Duragpur and the Rs 100 crore project had so far produced 77,980t of cement during the year.

Ambuja Cement sales grew by 11.8 per cent during 2006-07, while Ultra Tech and ACC grew by 8 per cent and 6.4 per cent respectively.

These major producers collectively accounted for nearly 88 per cent of the cement produced in the state.

Medium sized plants in the state recorded growth as well, with production up by nearly 10 per cent, according to the 'Quarterly bulletin on Investment, Industry & Trade in West Bengal' published by the directorate of industries.

It said that the cement industry in the state was steadily progressing towards achieving self-sufficiency in terms of demand and supply at the state level. Among upcoming projects, Grasim has obtained the industrial entrepreneurs' memorandum (IEM) for a greenfield cement plant of 1mtpa capacity.

Madras Cement Company too has obtained an IEM for its 1mtpa plant at Kolaghat.

Sonar Bangla Cement, a division of Century Textile & Industries, was setting up a 1.5mtpa plant at Sagardihi in Murshidabad.