Concrete

Shree Cement To Invest Rs 20 Billion In Maharashtra Plant

New 2 mtpa unit to strengthen capacity expansion plans

Published

4 months ago

December 24, 2025

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Shree Cement Ltd has announced an investment of Rs 20 billion to set up a new cement plant in Maharashtra, the country’s third-largest cement maker said on Friday at the World Hindu Economic Forum (WHEF) 2025. The letter of intent for the proposed investment was signed in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai. Shree Cement chairman Hari Mohan Bangur said the company will establish a 2 million tonnes per annum plant in Chandrapur district, where land has already been acquired. He added that the project is awaiting environmental clearance and, once approved, is expected to be completed within two years. The expansion will be funded through internal cash reserves, with the company reporting a cash balance of Rs 65.41 billion at the end of FY25.

Shree Cement currently has an installed capacity of 62.8 million tonnes per annum. During the second quarter of FY26, the company commissioned a 3.65 mtpa clinker unit at Jaitaran in Rajasthan, while a 3 mtpa cement mill at the same location is expected to start operations shortly. A 3 mtpa integrated plant at Kodla in Karnataka is in the final stages of development and is scheduled to be commissioned within the third quarter of FY26. Following these ongoing expansions, the company’s total capacity is expected to rise to 68.8 mtpa, according to an ICICI Direct Research note dated 29 October.

Analysts estimate that Shree Cement’s capacity could reach between 72 and 75 mtpa by FY27E, with further potential to scale up to 80 mtpa by FY28E or FY29E, depending on demand trends. However, market observers have flagged medium-term risks, noting that industry-wide capacity additions may outpace demand growth through FY28-29, particularly in northern and western India where significant new capacity is expected. At the same time, cement prices declined sharply in the third quarter, especially in eastern and southern regions, though analysts expect some recovery from January, led by the South and East.

The announcement comes amid aggressive expansion plans by larger peers. UltraTech Cement recently raised its capacity target from 167 mtpa to 240 mtpa by FY28, while the Adani Group increased its cement capacity target by nearly 10 per cent to 155 mtpa by the same period. Shree Cement reported a 15 per cent year-on-year rise in revenue to Rs 43.03 billion in the September quarter, driven by higher volumes, premiumisation efforts and a value-over-volume strategy. The company’s chief financial officer Ashok Bhandari has guided for capital expenditure of around Rs 30 billion in FY26-27, with a similar level expected in FY27-28. Shares of Shree Cement ended 0.18 per cent lower on Friday, while the benchmark Sensex closed 0.53 per cent higher.

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Concrete

UltraTech Cement FY26 PAT Crosses Rs 80 bn

Company reports record sales, profit and 200 MTPA capacity milestone

Published

39 minutes ago

April 29, 2026

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UltraTech Cement reported record financial performance for Q4 and FY26, supported by strong volumes, higher profitability and improved cost efficiency. Consolidated net sales for Q4 FY26 rose 12 per cent year-on-year to Rs 254.67 billion, while PBIDT increased 20 per cent to Rs 56.88 billion. PAT, excluding exceptional items, grew 21 per cent to Rs 30.11 billion.

For FY26, consolidated net sales stood at Rs 873.84 billion, up 17 per cent from Rs 749.36 billion in FY25. PBIDT rose 32 per cent to Rs 175.98 billion, while PAT increased 36 per cent to Rs 83.05 billion, crossing the Rs 80 billion mark for the first time.

India grey cement volumes reached 42.41 million tonnes in Q4 FY26, up 9.3 per cent year-on-year, with capacity utilisation at 89 per cent. Full-year India grey cement volumes stood at 145 million tonnes. Energy costs declined 3 per cent, aided by a higher green power mix of 43 per cent in Q4.

The company’s domestic grey cement capacity has crossed 200 MTPA, reaching 200.1 MTPA, while global capacity stands at 205.5 MTPA. UltraTech also recommended a special dividend of Rs 2.40 billion per share value basis equivalent to Rs 240.

Concrete

Towards Mega Batching

Optimised batching can drive overall efficiencies in large projects.

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2026

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India’s pace of infrastructure development is pushing the construction sector to work at a significantly higher scale than previously. Tight deadlines necessitate eliminating concreting delays, especially in large and mega projects, which, in turn, imply installing the right batching plant and ensuring batching is efficient. CW explores these steps as well as the gaps in India’s batching plant market.

Choose well

Large-scale infrastructure and building projects typically involve concrete consumption exceeding 30,000-50,000 cum per annum or demand continuous, high-volume pours within compressed timelines, according to Rahul R Wadhai, DGM – Quality, Tata Projects.

Considering the daily need for concrete, “large-scale concreting involves pouring more than 1,000–2,000 cum per day while mega projects involve more than 3,000 cum per day,” says Satish R Vachhani, Advanced Concrete & Construction Consultant…

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Concrete

Andhra Offers Discom Licences To Private Firms Outside Power Sector

Policy allows firms over 300 MW to seek distribution licences

Published

2 days ago

April 27, 2026

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The Andhra Pradesh government will allow private firms that require more than 300 megawatt (MW) of power to apply for distribution licences, making the state the first to extend such licences beyond the power sector. The policy targets information technology, pharmaceuticals, steel and data centres and aims to reduce reliance on state utilities as demand rises for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Approved applicants will be able to procure electricity directly from generators through power purchase agreements, a change officials said will create more competitive tariffs and reduce supply risk. Licence holders will use the Andhra Pradesh Transmission Company (APTRANSCO) network on payment of charges and will not need a separate distribution network initially.

Licences will be granted under the Electricity Act, 2003 framework, with the Central and State electricity regulators retaining authority over terms and approvals. The recent Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 sought to lower entry barriers, enable network sharing and encourage competition, while the state commission will set floor and ceiling tariffs where multiple discoms operate.

Industry players and original equipment manufacturers welcomed the policy, saying competitive supply is vital for large data centre investments. Major projects and partnerships such as those involving Adani and Google, Brookfield and Reliance, and Meta and Sify Technologies are expected to benefit as capacity expands in the state.

Analysts noted India’s data centre capacity is forecast to reach 10 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and cited International Energy Agency estimates that global data centre electricity consumption could approach 945 terawatt hours by the same year. A one GW data centre needs an equivalent power allocation and one point five times the water, which authorities equated to 150 billion litres (150 bn litres).

Advisers warned that distribution licences will require close regulation and monitoring to prevent misuse and to ensure tariffs and supply obligations are met. Officials said the policy aims to balance investor requirements with regulatory oversight and could serve as a model for other states.