Bangladeshi cement manufacturer Lafarge Surma Cement (LafargeHolcim Group) has received environmental clearance from the Indian government for its mining company to more than double its limestone production capacity to 5.5Mta.

Lafarge Umiam Mining, a fully-owned subsidiary of Lafarge Surma based in Meghalaya on the Bangladesh border, currently has clearance to produce and transport 2.2Mta of limestone to Surma’s manufacturing plant in Bangladesh.

The Ngntrai mine was set up as per an agreement between India and Bangladesh in November 2000, and limestone is conveyed over the border via a 17km conveyor to supply the Lafarge Surma plant.

Currently Lafarge Surma has a production capacity of 1.5Mta cement and 1.2Mta clinker.