Lafarge eyes 100% blended cement output in 2 years

Lafarge India, the subsidiary of French cement maker Lafarge SA, is looking at 100 per cent blended cement production in two years.

Lafarge India has a plant each at Chattisgarh and Jharkhand. Currently, blended cement accounts for about 90 per cent of the company's production.

Mahendra Kumar Chaudhary, senior vice-president, operations, said, "There is a good market for blended cement in eastern India, where our plants are located. We are looking at increasing our blending ratios to cater to the growing demand. It will take us about two years to make 100 per cent blended cement."

Meanwhile the company is also on the lookout for acquisitions. It is planning to add between 1 million tonne and 2.5 million tonne of capacity over the next couple of years. The existing installed capacity of the company is 5 million tonne per annum.

"We want to maintain our market share in the eastern market and, therefore, we are looking at adding capacity. If we are not able to acquire any units in the region, we will opt for brownfield expansion. The decision regarding this issue will be made in six months," Chaudhary explained.

The company is also open to acquisitions in other parts of the country. "For acquisition we are looking at units with over one million tonne per annum capacity," Chaudhary added.

Lafarge India currently holds over 20 per cent of the eastern market, comprising West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand.