Economy & Market

Challenging Days Ahead

Published

15 years ago

November 30, 2011

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Bad news never comes singly. India’s economic growth has slumped to its lowest in more than two years while output expansion at key industries tumbled to a six-year low and even the finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee, has warned that there are tough times ahead. There has been a sharp deceleration in industrial growth with output growth in eight core industries, including steel, cement and coal, dropping to near-zero in October, a sharp decline from 7.2 per cent one year back. Under the circumstances, the cement sector needs to remain vigilant and while bracing itself for weaker growth, seek out newer strategies to ensure that targeted capacity and production stays on line while staying in line with environmental demands and limitations in raw material availability.It is worrying indeed that fiscal deficit for the first seven months of the year has already reached 75 per cent of the year’s estimate. Experts concur with the finance minister that a combination of domestic and international issues are going to impact the country’s growth. GDP data released by the government on in the last week of November 2011 has revealed broad-based weakness in the economy, with mining contracting 2.9 per cent and manufacturing rising by 2.7 per cent in the last quarter. Despite the gloomy outlook, the finance ministry is hopeful that the economy will recover some of its lost momentum and is expecting 7.3 per cent GDP as against last year’s 8.5 per cent.According to Research & Markets report on the Indian cement sector, economic recovery, which had gained momentum in the first half of FY11, started showing signs of moderation in the second half. The biggest hindrance to growth momentum, however, has been high inflation. Inflation refuses to abate and has forced RBI to pursue monetary tightening measures even at the cost of growth. Rising energy prices and interest rates will continue to pose a challenge for businesses in the near future. Despite these short term challenges, the overall economic sentiment remains healthy and a good growth rate for the next year is expected.FY11 was quite challenging for the cement industry. On the one hand, demand growth weakened due to lower realty and infrastructure spending, while on the other, extended monsoons and logistical constraints dampened construction activity.On the supply front, overcapacity continued to plague the industry. During the year, the industry witnessed capacity addition of around 28 million TPA in addition to the 60 million TPA added in the previous year. Industry capacity utilization was at 75 per cent against 84 per cent recorded in the previous year. Surplus cement scenario together with sluggish demand and volatile prices adversely impacted domestic realizations which were lower by 4 per cent as compared to the previous year. On the cost front, the higher price of both domestic and imported coal resulted in a 25 per cent increase in energy costs, which rose substantially from 671 per ton to 838 per ton. During the year, imported coal prices rose by 36 per cent from CIF $ 89 per ton to $ 121 per ton. In addition to the normal price hike in domestic coal, there was a further increase in domestic coal prices in the range of 30 per cent -150 per cent from 1st March, 2011, according to the report.While the larger economic issues play out a crucial role on the industry’s performance, it is left to the sector to analyse the various other shortcomings it faces and seek remedies for the same.PRESENT STATUS

Capacity and Production:

The installed capacity of cement in the country has grown during the period 1991 to 2011 at an average rate of 8.3 per cent CAGR while the production has grown at the rate of 8 per cent during the same period. The table -1 gives the installed capacity and production of cement between 1991-2011.

Thermal Energy:

The weighted average of thermal energy consumption of major 26 plants is shown in figure – 1. It would be seen that very little improvement is made over the years between 2005-2006 to 2007-2008. The world’s best ranges between 680-690 Kcal/kg clinker. Though there are some cement plants in India which are able to fall in this category but industry as a whole has challenge before it to further improve on this account.

Electric Energy Efficiency:

The weighted average of consumption of electric energy of 26 plants is given in figure – 2. The electric consumption has virtually reached at plateau and showing very little further improvement. The best operated plants have brought down the consumption in the range of 65-68 kwh/t cement, however, industry as a whole has scope for further improvement. Environmental Performance of Cement Plants:The National Ambient Air Quality Requirement as per CPCB is given in table – 2.The modern cement plants are able to adhere to these norms. The new generation plants with capacity 8000TPD and above are even excelling the norms.

Product Mix:

The Indian cement industry has undergone major shift in product mix especially during the last decade. The environmental and sustainability issues may demand same trend to continue in the future. The table -3 gives product mix during the different periods;CHALLENGES AHEAD

Lime Stone:

Lime stone will continue to be the life line of cement manufacture. As per thumb rule, for every ton of clinker produced, 1.75 tonnes mineable line stone deposits of proven variety should be available. For 350 million tons installed targeted capacity by the end of XI plan (2012), nearly 600 mn.t of cement grade lime stone have to be made available annually. Keeping in view the rapid expansion of Indian Cement Industry, NCB initiated the task of preparation of national inventory of cement grade lime stone. As on 31st March, 2002, India’s total reserves have been estimated as given in table – 4.Table – 4 Lime Stone ReservesSizable reserves are located in inaccessible areas, difficult terrains reserved forests, bio-zones and coastal regulatory Zones, etc. The proven category reserves are only 22,476mn.t which are likely to last for next 35 to 40 years at the present rate of production.Apart from limited availability of measured reserve for green field projects, about 27 per cent of total reserves are of marginal grade which can only be utilized with sweetener or after up-gradation through beneficiation. Availability of cement grade limestone will be becoming a major challenge for the cement industry in the future.

Coal :

Availability of coal is proving another bottleneck in the growth of cement industry. The coal demand of cement industry is given in table -5.During the last decade the coal demand has gone almost four times. The infrastructure deficiencies at ports are causing problems in importing coal and availability of indigenous coal to cement industry is not assured. The first preference is being given to Thermal Power Plants and then to steel industry in allocation of coal by the Govt. The cost of coal is escalating every year and posing challenge before the cement industry. The situation is likely to aggravate in future.BLENDING MATERIALS

Fly Ash:

Large quality of fly ash is generated in India but in many cases, the location of major Thermal Power Plants is far away from cement plants and in absence of proper infrastructure for transportation and handing of fly ash, most of it cannot be utilized. The availability of fly ash is given in table – 6The cost of fly ash is continuously increasing due to transportation and permission given to thermal power plants to charge for it instead of giving free. The mega thermal plants located in East UP, West Bengal, North Bihar and generally in Eastern part of India have very few cement plants in close vicinity. The mismatch in location of Thermal Power Plants and cement plants is shown in Figure – 3The availability of good quality fly ash at reasonable cost is also going to be major factor before the cement industry in coming years.

GGBS

Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag (GGBS) cement is a by-product of the steel industry. Molten slag lying on top of the molten iron in the blastfurnace comprises silicates (glass), and is the raw material for GGBS cement. The molten slag – of no use to the steel making process – is cooled and then finely ground to form GGBS cement. Currently around 200 kg of slag is generated for each ton of steel produced in India making it 11 to 12 mt slag annually. Most of the slag is produced in the eastern part of the country where it is used in production of slag cement. The availability of blast furnace slag will continue to remain limited and possibilities need to be explored to use slags other than blast furnace like zinc slag, copper slag, steel slag for manufacture of slag cement. At present these slags are not permitted by BIS for production of slag cement.HIGH INPUT COSTS AND INFRASTRUCTURAL WEAKNESS

At present, the cement industry is facing two fold problems of high input costs and infrastructural weakness. The inputs with spiraling cost increase are coal, power and transport by rail or road. The coal from public sector is of poor quality, high ash and low calorific value content and at times costlier than imported coal. There is need to introduce competition for improving quality, regularity in supply and reduced prices. The power from public utilities is of poor quality due to frequent power cuts and fluctuating voltage. Power sector reforms if taken up seriously will enable quality power to cement plants at reasonable cost.Transport by rail or road is a cost-intensive component and amounts to almost 15 per cent to 20 per cent of the delivered cost to the consumers. The railway tariff is high and need to be rationalized for an essential product like cement. Road transport on the other hand, provides limited alternative because of inadequacy of road network and rising cost of road transport due to continuously rising fuel cost. Inland water transport is a low investment, eco-friendly and cheap mode especially for bulk commodities like cement. Coastal shipping and inland waterways will help in bringing down the transportation cost. Due to increasing use of cement in bilk, more and more bulk terminals will be needed in the years to come and inland water transport and coastal shipping can be of great help in this regard.TO INCREASE USE OF CEMENTCement is not the end-use product for the consumer. Concrete and mortar are the real end-products. Use of concrete at present is very low, about 0.5t per head annually against World’s average of 1.0t. Use of concrete and cement based products need to be promoted especially in the following sectors to increase the demand of cement.

Concrete roads
White topping over existing bitumen roads
Cement based bricks/blocks for walling in lieu of clay bricks
Pre-fab components for mass housing in lieu of conventional systems for roofing, flooring, walling etc.
Cement concrete lining to canals to reduce seepage losses.
Development of inland water ways and linking of rivers.

The average consumption of cement per head is very low in India, in the range of 180-190 kg while world average is about 400kg and in developed countries it is 600-800kg. Cement-concrete is more durable than other conventional materials and the use of concrete in construction will bring down the life cycle of civil works and will be more eco-friendly and sustainable.ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND CUSTOMER ORIENTATION

The main global concerns at present are conservation of energy and pollution control. In future pressure will mount on the industry to reduce energy and GHG emissions. The energy consumption of many of the cement plants in India is comparable with the "best practices". However, there is still a scope to bring down the energy consumption by improving operational efficiency and plant technology. Though many plants have won environmental excellence awards but industry as a whole can still achieve better results on this front.The future initiatives have to be directed for using hazardous or waste materials (pet coke, used tyres, municipal and agricultural waste etc.) as fuel and larger use of fly ash, ggbs and other industrial waster like Zinc-lead slag, copper slag, steel slag etc. Both these ventures would contribute to environmental improvement and legislative and statutory authorities should support these initiatives.The customers have to be educated in proper use of cement and to avoid wastages at site. The inhibition to use mineral admixtures like fly ash, ggbs and blended cements should be removed through proper training and demonstrations at construction sites. The new code on concrete mix proportioning IS 10262 has been issued by BIS in 2009, rationalizing the use of binding materials and to avoid excessive use of cementing materials in concrete. The good construction practices should be encouraged by upgrading the skills of construction professionals for increasing the life of construction and to avoid the wasteful consumption of materials in repairs and rehabilitation. The mechanization in construction is another area which would need focus in future. The promotion of RMC during the last decade has brought numerous benefits in making concrete more reliable, durable and cost effective material. Similarly the pre-cast industry, which is in very nascent stage has potential to provide speed, quality and sustainability to construction projects. Promotion of these technologies and practices would provide additional impetus to the growth of cement industry in the coming decade.TOUGH TIMES CALL FOR TOUGH MEASURESThe industry has to overcome new challenges to be vibrant and healthy in future. The major hurdles are likely to be availability of quality raw materials at reasonable cost, energy sources, compatible infrastructure for movement of raw materials and finished goods, skilled man power and commensurate financial resources for continued technological up-gradations and innovations to meet the future aspirations of the construction industry and the society at large. These challenges can be met by combined efforts of industry friendly legislative frame work, boost of infrastructure by government, adoption of technologies to increase demand for cement and the cement industry by continuously striving for technological excellence and innovations in all fields of its operation. The Indian cement industry will emerge stronger, more efficient, sustainable and vibrant in future by virtue of its dedication and an intense urge to serve the construction industry in best possible manner.A.K. Jain is Technical Advisor, Ultratech Cement Ltd

Economy & Market

The Road Ahead Begins Here

Published

1 day ago

August 11, 2026

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The future of India’s roads took centrestage at RAHSTA Expo 2026, where policymakers, contractors and industry leaders came together under one roof. The event blended thought leadership, technology showcase and industry recognition into a single powerful platform.

India’s roads and highways community gathered in full strength at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, for the 16th edition of the RAHSTA Expo (Roads and Highways Sustainable Technologies & Advancement). Over two action-packed days, the event brought together policymakers, contractors, consultants, developers, equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, technology providers and investors to deliberate on the future of India’s ,infrastructure while showcasing the latest innovations driving the sector.

The event culminated in the prestigious RAHSTA Awards, where Shri. Ajay Tamta, Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, felicitated organisations and professionals for their outstanding contributions to road construction, engineering, safety, sustainability and technology. With leading contractors, senior government officials, industry veterans and technology providers under one roof, the event reaffirmed RAHSTA’s position as one of India’s most influential platforms for the roads, highways, bridges and tunnels ecosystem.

Organised by FIRST Construction Council in association with ASAPP Info Global Group, RAHSTA has steadily evolved beyond an exhibition into a platform where policy, technology, engineering and business converge to address the opportunities and challenges shaping India’s next generation of transport infrastructure.

Beyond expansion, towards value

The conference opened with a thought-provoking address by Pratap Padode, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Construction World, who observed that India’s highways sector has reached an important inflection point. Introducing this year’s theme – ‘From Expansion to Value: The Next Phase of India’s Highways’ – he noted that while the country has successfully expanded its road network over the past two decades, the industry’s priorities are now shifting towards building infrastructure that delivers greater lifecycle value, durability, safety and operational efficiency. With funding pressures, asset monetisation and evolving project models changing the sector’s dynamics, he said the focus must now move beyond kilometres constructed to the quality and long-term performance of every asset.

Dr Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director, Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC), reminded delegates that successful infrastructure delivery is ultimately a collective effort. Emphasising on collaboration between government, industry and engineering professionals, he remarked, “There is no loser in a winning team, and there is no winner in a losing team,” urging stakeholders to work together to deliver projects with quality, financial sustainability and technological excellence.

Delivering the keynote address, Bidur Kant Jha, Director, New Technologies for Highway Development, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), outlined the Government’s long-term vision for India’s highway network. Highlighting the country’s 6.26 million km roads network, he spoke about the growing adoption of digital planning tools such as BIM and GIS, bridge health monitoring systems and Integrated Smart Transport Corridors under the Vision 2047 roadmap. He emphasised that while India remains open to global innovations, every new technology must be adapted to Indian conditions before large-scale deployment.

Addressing the gathering during the awards ceremony, Tamta underlined the increasing role of specialised equipment and modern construction technologies in executing complex infrastructure projects across diverse terrains. Referring to challenging tunnel projects in Uttarakhand, he noted how advanced machinery has transformed execution capabilities, while also acknowledging the rapid evolution of Indian contractors into globally competitive infrastructure companies. Recognising excellence through industry awards, he said, motivates organisations to continually raise performance standards and embrace innovation.

Meanwhile, Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, highlighted that infrastructure development must increasingly focus on integrated urban mobility. Reflecting on Mumbai’s engineering journey – from its historic underground utility network to the Coastal Road and other transformative projects – he underlined that future infrastructure planning must seamlessly integrate roads, metro systems and public transport to create efficient, multimodal cities.

Uttar Pradesh takes centrestage

One of the highlights of the second day was Uttar Pradesh’s comprehensive presentation on its infrastructure-led industrial transformation.

Srihari Pratap Shahi, IAS, Additional CEO, Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), demonstrated how the state’s expanding expressway network is evolving into a catalyst for industrial development through integrated manufacturing and logistics clusters. Expressways, he noted, are no longer merely transport corridors but engines of economic competitiveness.

Building on this narrative, Deeksha Jain, IAS, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA), showcased the state’s rapidly expanding industrial ecosystem supported by extensive expressway connectivity, dedicated freight corridors, airports, industrial townships and investor-friendly policies. She highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s strong manufacturing growth, expanding industrial land bank, plug-and-play infrastructure and increasing use of digital governance to facilitate investments.

Further underlining the significance of the platform, Deepak Kumar, IAS, Infrastructure & Industrial Development Commissioner, Government of Uttar Pradesh, remarked, “RAHSTA provides an excellent platform for states to showcase our infrastructure progress and investment ecosystem. Uttar Pradesh has transformed significantly over the past decade, backed by more than 34 investor-friendly industrial policies, and platforms like RAHSTA help communicate these developments to industry stakeholders from across the country.”

Ideas that shaped the industry conversation

The two-day conference featured seven panel discussions, each examining a critical dimension of India’s evolving roads and highways sector.

The opening discussion on ‘Financing Roads & Highways in a Capital-Constrained Era’ brought together experts from Cube Highways, NIIF, SBI Capital Markets, Centrum Capital and Bandhan Infra Fund, who examined how the financing landscape is changing. Discussions revolved around asset monetisation, InvITs, institutional investments and new funding structures, with panellists agreeing that better project preparation, transparent governance and predictable returns will be crucial for attracting long-term capital into infrastructure.

Attention then shifted to execution realities during the panel on ‘Contractors’ Perspective: Execution Realities, Risks & the Quality Imperative.’ Representatives from GHV Infra Projects, PNC Infratech, NCC and Maccaferri candidly discussed the challenges of delivering projects amid contractual complexities, land acquisition delays, rising costs and tight timelines. While execution pressures remain significant, the discussion reinforced that better collaboration across the project value chain is essential for achieving both speed and quality.

Day 2 opened with a technically rich discussion on ‘Designing Roads for Sustainability, Durability & Climate Resilience’. Experts from CSIR-CRRI, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, Zydex Group and SRMB Steel explored advanced pavement technologies, recycled materials, climate-resilient designs and scientific construction practices that can significantly improve durability while lowering lifecycle costs. Sustainability, they agreed, must become an integral part of road design rather than an afterthought.

The subsequent session on ‘Bridges & Tunnels: Complex Engineering, Safety & Future Readiness’ highlighted the growing complexity of India’s infrastructure projects. Panellists discussed advances in structural engineering, digital monitoring, risk management and safety practices that are enabling the successful delivery of increasingly ambitious bridge and tunnel projects across the country.

Technology remained a recurring theme during the discussion on ‘Technology as a Risk-Mitigation Tool for Developers & Investors’. Experts explained how AI, BIM, drones, predictive analytics, digital twins and intelligent monitoring systems are helping improve project planning, minimise execution risks, strengthen quality assurance and enhance asset management throughout the infrastructure lifecycle.

The construction equipment panel brought together leading industry experts to examine how technology, sustainability and digitalisation are redefining construction equipment in an era of rising cost pressures. Discussions centred on enhancing productivity, reducing lifecycle costs and preparing the industry for India’s infrastructure ambitions leading up to 2047.

The conference concluded with an engaging CXO Forum on ‘Rebuilding Confidence in India’s Roads & Highways Sector’, where senior industry leaders emphasised that stronger governance, better project preparation, digitalisation, transparent contracting and closer public-private collaboration will be essential to sustain India’s infrastructure growth over the coming decades.

Technology and recognition under one roof

Beyond the conference halls, RAHSTA Expo reflected the technological transformation underway across India’s road infrastructure ecosystem. Leading equipment manufacturers, technology companies and material suppliers showcased advanced construction equipment, intelligent digital platforms, pavement technologies, structural materials and productivity-enhancing solutions designed to improve project efficiency and asset performance. The exhibition created valuable opportunities for contractors, consultants, government agencies and project developers to evaluate new technologies while interacting directly with solution providers.

The event also served as a celebration of excellence through the RAHSTA Awards 2026, which recognised outstanding achievements across road construction, contracting, materials, equipment, technology, safety, sustainability and infrastructure development. Presented by Minister Tamta, the awards honoured organisations that are setting new benchmarks for quality, innovation and execution across India’s roads sector.

RAHSTA Expo 2026 also received extensive support from across the infrastructure ecosystem. Alongside leading corporate sponsors, the event was backed by industry bodies including the Builders Association of India (BAI), Construction Equipment Rental Association (CERA), Consulting Engineers Association of India (CEAI), International Road Federation (IRF), CSIR-CRRI, CILT India, All India Transporters Welfare Association, Hydraulic Trailer Owners Association (HTOA), Gujarat Contractors Association, Bitumen Forum, Fluid Power Society of India, Indian Institute of Material Management, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and Mumbai First, reflecting the industry’s collective commitment to advancing India’s road infrastructure.

As the curtains came down on the two-day event, one message resonated throughout the conference: India’s highways story is entering a new chapter. While expansion will continue, the future will increasingly be defined by smarter planning, stronger partnerships, digital transformation, sustainable engineering and long-term value creation. By bringing together the entire infrastructure value chain on a single platform, RAHSTA Expo 2026 once again demonstrated why it has become one of the country’s most influential forums for shaping the future of roads, highways, bridges and tunnels.

Economy & Market

Fornnax Names Lukas Baur as Authorised Service Partner to Bolster EU Operations

Published

3 weeks ago

July 23, 2026

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Strapline: Fornnax Technology has appointed NOBA Maschinenservice’s Lukas Baur as its authorised service partner for the European Union, strengthening its commitment to delivering fast, reliable, and localised after-sales support across the region.

Fornnax Technology, a leading manufacturer of industrial shredding solutions, has announced the appointment of Mr. Lukas Baur of NOBA Maschinenservice as its authorised service partner for the European Union. The partnership, formalised under the authorisation of Fornnax CEO Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, reinforces the company’s commitment to providing dependable, localised service support to its expanding customer base across Europe.

Strengthening Service Through Proven Expertise

With over two decades of experience in servicing, maintaining, and overhauling industrial shredders, Mr. Baur brings extensive technical expertise to the partnership. His capabilities span welding, hardfacing, shaft and knife rebuilding, complex assembly, hydraulics, and complete electrical engineering services, delivered in collaboration with a trusted partner company based in Halle/Saale.

Operating from Worbis, Germany, Mr. Baur is strategically positioned to provide emergency support across the European Union within 24 hours, covering an operational radius of approximately 1,000 kilometres.

Supporting this capability is a well-equipped service infrastructure comprising 12 Mercedes Sprinter service vans, a team of 24 skilled technicians, specialised bearing-change tools, a fully equipped hydraulic workshop, and a 1,000-square-metre facility with a five-ton crane track. Together, these resources position his team to manage the complete spectrum of Fornnax’s European service requirements efficiently and reliably.

Partnership Driven by Industry Insight

Having spent years servicing Eldan, Lindner, and Vecoplan shredders across the European recycling industry, Mr. Baur’s decision to collaborate with Fornnax is rooted in his understanding of market needs and customer expectations. His experience has provided valuable insight into what recycling plant operators require—not only from their machinery but also from the service teams supporting them.

According to Mr. Baur, Fornnax’s reputation for robust machine construction, superior wear protection, and maintenance-friendly design made the partnership a natural fit.

The collaboration comes at a time when Europe’s tyre recycling industry is facing mounting challenges, including rising cost pressures, shrinking margins, delayed investments, and a shortage of skilled labour. Mr. Baur believes these conditions reinforce the need for technically strong service partners capable of delivering rapid, dependable support.

Commenting on the partnership, he said, “Fornnax, with its exceptional price-performance ratio and superior quality, has the potential to become a market leader in Europe. We would like to be their service partner in this journey.”

Comprehensive Support Across the Equipment Lifecycle

As Fornnax’s authorised service partner, Mr. Baur will oversee the complete lifecycle support of the company’s equipment throughout the European Union. His responsibilities will include installation, commissioning, preventive maintenance, emergency repairs, and spare parts support across mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical systems.

Looking ahead, he also plans to develop a centralised spare parts distribution hub for European customers, particularly if Fornnax establishes a warehouse facility in Worbis to facilitate faster deliveries. To further strengthen service coverage, Mr. Baur intends to expand operations by adding two to three additional service teams and vehicles each year, progressively increasing capacity across the continent.

A Shared Commitment to Customer Excellence

Highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership, Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO of Fornnax, said:

“We strongly believe that by continuously improving our service quality and customer satisfaction index, we can build long-term relationships with our customers. Higher customer satisfaction leads to greater trust, which significantly increases repeat orders and ultimately drives sustained growth in our sales revenue.”

This customer-first philosophy underpins Fornnax’s strategy of building a dedicated European service partner network instead of relying solely on remote support. With Mr. Baur joining this network, customers across the European Union will benefit from faster response times, expert technical assistance, and dedicated on-ground support from a partner with extensive experience in high-throughput shredding operations.

Mr. Baur’s appointment also reflects Fornnax’s broader ambition to establish itself as the preferred shredding solutions provider for the European recycling industry, marking another important milestone in the company’s international growth strategy.

Concrete

Nuvoco Vistas launches Limla cement plant, expands Gujarat footprint

Published

1 month ago

July 13, 2026

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Nuvoco Vistas opens a 2 MMTPA grinding unit at Limla, entering Gujarat and advancing its target of 35 MMTPA capacity by FY 2028.

Surat (Gujarat)

Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Ltd, a part of Nirma Group and one of India’s leading building materials company, has inaugurated the Limla Cement Plant in Surat (Gujarat), one of Vadraj Cement Limited’s (VCL) principal manufacturing facilities. The commissioning represents a key milestone in Nuvoco’s acquisition and restoration of VCL, while supporting the company’s expansion across the Western Indian cement market.

Vadraj Cement Limited is a subsidiary of Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited and has installed cement capacity of 6 MMTPA across its assets. The Limla inauguration therefore represents the first operational step in the acquired platform’s wider revival, while the Kutch facilities provide clinker supply, mineral security and coastal logistics support for the western business.

Nuvoco completed its acquisition of Vadraj Cement Limited, then under the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process, after paying a consideration of Rs 1,800 crore in June 2025. VCL’s asset portfolio comprises a clinker unit at Kutch and a grinding unit at Limla in Surat. It also includes high-quality captive limestone reserves and a captive jetty at Kutch, supporting more efficient logistics. Following the takeover, Nuvoco began an extensive programme of restoration, refurbishment and expansion at both locations, leading to the commissioning of the Limla plant.

The Limla Cement Plant is expected to support a phased increase in sales volumes across Gujarat. It will also help Nuvoco supply neighbouring markets in Western Maharashtra and release cement capacity from its northern plants, which can consequently be redirected towards markets in North India. The plant will manufacture a full portfolio comprising Ordinary Portland Cement, Portland Slag Cement, Portland Pozzolana Cement and Portland Composite Cement. It will additionally produce the complete Nuvoco Duraguard range, including the premium Nuvoco Duraguard Microfibre product. The acquisition is also expected to generate operational synergies with Nuvoco’s existing plants at Nimbol and Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, improving logistics optimisation and market reach across important regional markets.

The grinding unit at the Limla Cement Plant was completed ahead of schedule, with 2 MMTPA of capacity now inaugurated to expand Nuvoco’s operating scale and customer reach. After Vadraj Cement’s assets become fully operational, plants in North and West India are expected to account for nearly 40 per cent of Nuvoco’s total cement capacity. This will broaden the company’s manufacturing network, strengthen access to high-growth markets and support its plan to increase consolidated cement capacity to 35 MMTPA by FY 2028, reinforcing its longer-term growth strategy.

Commenting on the development, Jayakumar Krishnaswamy, Managing Director, Nuvoco Vistas Corp Ltd, said: “The inauguration of the Limla Grinding Unit in Surat is an important milestone in Nuvoco’s growth journey and demonstrates our commitment to disciplined, value-accretive expansion. Gujarat is strategically significant for Nuvoco, with substantial opportunities arising from infrastructure investment, industrial growth, rapid urbanisation and continuing demand from the housing and construction sectors. The facility strengthens our regional footprint, improves operational flexibility and increases our ability to serve customers across northern and western markets with greater reliability and efficiency.”

He added: “Through the Vadraj acquisition, we have refurbished and restarted a strategically important asset, returning it to operations in record time through strong execution and collaboration between teams. The achievement demonstrates our ability to create value from acquired assets, fulfil our commitments and retain the confidence of stakeholders. It also highlights the strength of our project delivery capabilities and our continued focus on building sustainable, profitable growth over the long term.”

Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited is a building materials company whose vision is to build a safer, smarter and more sustainable world. It is among the leading players in East India and has a significant presence across North and West India. Nuvoco began operations in 2014 with a greenfield cement plant at Nimbol, Rajasthan. It later acquired Lafarge India Limited, which had entered India in 1999, followed by Emami Cement Limited in 2020 and Vadraj Cement Limited in April 2025. The company has also announced an expansion in eastern India through a new grinding mill at the Arasmeta Cement Plant, supported by several debottlenecking programmes involving equipment upgrades, process improvements and internal capacity initiatives. These developments place Nuvoco on track to achieve total cement capacity of approximately 35 MMTPA. The company reported total income of Rs 11,362 crore in FY 2025-26, reflecting its continuing growth trajectory.

Nuvoco operates a diversified portfolio across three segments: Cement, Ready-Mix Concrete and Modern Building Materials. Its cement portfolio includes Concreto, Duraguard, Double Bull, PSC, Nirmax and Infracem, covering Ordinary Portland Cement, Portland Slag Cement, Portland Pozzolana Cement and Portland Composite Cement. Its pan-India RMX business provides value-added products under Concreto for performance concrete, Artiste for decorative concrete, InstaMix for ready-to-use bagged concrete, X-Con covering M20 to M60 grades, and Ecodure for specialised green concrete. Nuvoco has supplied materials to projects including the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train, Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, Aquatic Gallery at Science City in Ahmedabad, and metro railway projects in Delhi, Jaipur, Noida and Mumbai.