Guj Ambuja sets up new mill in Himachal

Gujarat Ambuja Cements today announced that it has set up an additional 6 lakh tonne per annum cement mill at its unit in Darlaghat, Himachal Pradesh. The new mill has increased the group's capacity to 15.5 million tonne per annum, from the existing 14.9 million tonne per annum.

In a statement, the company said, "The expansion of the grinding unit has been undertaken at a cost of Rs 50 crore and this additional capacity would increase the capacity of the unit to 1.6 million tonne per annum."

Suresh Neotia, chairman, said in the statement that is was a part of the group's strategy to strengthen its presence in the north. The new cement mill will consume fly ash, thereby increasing the production of blended cement by the company.

The company has targeted a rated capacity of 20 million tonne in three years. While majority of the increase in capacity would come through acquisitions, brownfield expansion would also augment capacity.

Gujarat Ambuja has announced that it would set up a Rs 100 crore fly ash-based production unit at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh, utilising the 3.5 lakh tonne fly-ash generated by the National Thermal Power Corporation.

The company recently enhanced the capacity of its Ropar unit in Punjab by 1 million tonne per annum. After the capacity enhancement, the Ropar plant's capacity stands increased to 2.5 million tonne per annum. The company invested Rs 200 crore for this expansion, which also includes setting up of a power plant.