Displaying items by tag: Tamil Nadu

India: The Tamil Nadu government has rolled out 'Amma Cement,' a scheme that will see it sell cement at a subsidised rate. According to the scheme, the government will procure 200,000t of cement from the private sector and sell it at US$3/bag in all corporation, Municipalities and other local body limits.

The initiative was launched in Tiruchirappalli on 5 January 2015 and will be expanded in phases and implemented throughout Tamil Nadu by 10 January 2015. Beneficiaries can avail a minimum of 50 bags of cement for 100ft² and a maximum of 750 bags for 1500ft² at US$3/bag. They have to submit the approved building plan with the local authorities to use the scheme. Further, 10 - 100 bags will be provided for house repair work. The scheme will also be available to those constructing houses under the government's solar-powered green houses scheme.

India: The Pollution Control Board has despatched 20,000t of effluent sludge generated by textile units in the SIPCOT Industrial Estate in Perundurai to cement plants in Ariyalur district in Tamil Nadu state for use as an alternative fuel. Local media reports that local cement producers have started accepting effluent sludge from the dying industry after the success of a trial run that indicated no variation in the strength and quality of cement. Following the first order demand for another 8000t has been expressed.

India: Cement consumption in India fell for the first time in nearly 20 years in the three months to 30 June 2011, with a political impasse in large consumer states holding up infrastructure and realty projects. Demand fell by 0.68% during the period compared with the corresponding period in 2010 but demand changes were different depending on location. In Andhra Pradesh, demand contracted by 21% and in Karnataka it was down by 8.04%, according to data from Cement Manufacturers' Association (CMA).

Elsewhere, demand was down by 2% in June 2011 in Kerala and in Tamil Nadu, it was down by 1.9%. In comparison Gujarat saw cement demand grow by 4.9%, but growth was less strong than the same period of 2010, when 15% cement demand growth was seen.

The demand for cement is not assisted by problems that are expected to hinder government's proposed USD107bn investment in state road development during the 12th Plan period. The government has cited a lack of capacity in the private sector to make large investments, political sensitivity surrounding road-tolling, land acquisition disputes (which have caused a slow-down and resentment from locals at the site of the Formula 1 circuit site in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh) and a shortage of trained manpower as key problem-areas that may hamper the execution of the programme, due to start in 2012.

It is estimated that because of these problems, around 80% of the cost of the proposed investment will have to be met by public funds. The plan includes the construction of over 30,000km of new dual-carriageways, 5000km of four-lane highways and another 41,500km of single-track roads that are due for restructuring. The plan stipulates that the roads will be finished with either cement-based finishes or asphalt.

India: Madras Cement is planning to pump in around USD34m on expansion and power projects at its three cement plants in southern Indian city of Tamil Nadu. As per the company's 2010-11 annual report, it has plans to invest USD13.6m in the installation of a roller press at its R R Nagar power plant for expanding the cement grinding capacity to 260t/hr from the current level of 210t/hr. The planned project will start commissioning in March 2012. Apart from the roller press, the company is looking to install a 25MW thermal power plant at the same plant at an estimated cost of USD25m.

Madras will also install a roller press and a heavy fuel oil-based power generator of 5MW at its Salem grinding unit with a projected investment of USD25m and USD5.2m respectively. In addition to the expansion of the production capacity at its Ariyalur plant, Madras is looking to build up a second facility with a capacity of 2Mt/yr, which is to be commissioned in August 2011.