Birla Corp plans to set up a cement plant in Ethiopia following the establishment of a wholly-owned subsidiary, Birla Corp Cement Manufacturing Plc, in the sub-Saharan African country.

“We plan to go there for exploration of mainly limestone, for setting up a cement plant. We would also explore opportunities of setting up power plants there,” said a Birla Corp official, speaking to Daily News & Analysis India.

Birla Corp had previously tried to enter the east African country in 2010 by bidding for a contract for construction of a cement plant at Habesha. But it lost out to Chinese competitors.