Gujarat Ambuja sees 20 m tonne capacity in 3 yrs

The Rs 32,000 crore Gujarat Ambuja Cements is targeting a capacity of 20 million tonne per annum in the next three years.

For this the cement major 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 (NTPC).

Anil Singhvi, executive director, Gujarat Ambuja Cements, said: "We are looking at a capacity of 20 million tonne in the next three year through productivity enhancement and acquisitions."

At present the company has a capacity of 12.8 million tonne, and along with its subsidiary Ambuja Cement Eastern its total capacity stands at 14.8 million tonne.

The company had recently added one million tonne capacity at its Punjab unit.

"The tie-up with NTPC underlines our commitment to save the environment by promoting an effective and efficient use of fly ash," said Suresh Neotia, chairman of the company.

The first phase of the Dadri plant, with an initial capacity of six lakh tonne capacity, is likely to start in October, 2004, and consume 1.8 lakh tonne of fly-ash.

By the end of second phase, to be over by December 2006, a total of 3.6 lakh tonne of fly ash would be used to run the plant at full capacity. NTPC Dadri produces 14.6 lakh tonne fly ash annually.