India: Emami Cement hopes to add 15-20Mta in 3-5 years

India-based Emami Cement has plans to construct new plants that will add 15-20Mta of capacity to its portfolio over the next 3-5 years, as reported by The Times of India. Director of Emami Cement, Aditya Agarwal, said, “We aim to be among the top three players in the cement industry. We expect our cement division's turnover to touch [INR25bn] in 2018-19.”

The company, which began operations at its 5.5Mta Chhattisgarh plant in July this year, expects to register revenues of around INR5bn (US$74.7m) for full year operations ending March 2017, according to Mr Agarwal.

The Chhattisgarh plant was set up in addition to two separate grinding units in West Bengal and Odisha, costing a total of INR35bn, as reported by The Economic Times India. The West Bengal grinding unit is expected to become operation in January 2017, while the Odisha unit will not be complete until January 2018.

The company also plans to set up a 2Mta plant in Andhra Pradesh, where it also has a limestone mine, with a INR15bn investment. Mr Agarwal also noted a plant in Rajasthan, where the company also has a mine, which would have a capacity of 6Mta for a cost of INR35bn. According to Mr Agarwal, the company plans to fund its new projects with a 30:70 debt:equity ratio.