Concrete

Concrete steps

Published

11 years ago

June 30, 2014

admin

Finally, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry is moving in the direction we have long been waiting for. With the Union Road Transport, Highways and Shipping minister, Nitin Gadkari, committed to building better infrastructure with the right material, the industry can now see good days ahead.

Concrete roads cost almost just as much as laying bitumen roads and they last longer too. Concrete roads have a life expectancy of 20-30 years, without any need for relaying. Bitumen roads, at their theoretical best value, can survive for 5 years without repair. Do we need any other reason to opt for concrete roads? Why then have we been postponing this much needed shift? While developed countries on an average have 30 per cent of their road network in concrete, we are still at 2 per cent.

Even after 65 years of independence, the country is still relying on obsolete conventional bitumen pavement technology. These roads eat away huge funds in their regular maintenance, which otherwise would have been used for addition of new network of roads and creating new capital assets. About 70 per cent of the bitumen requirement for the road works in India is met through imports, costing huge sums of forex to the nation. On the other hand, cement an indigenous product of international quality is available in plenty in India. The present cement capacity is 360 mtpa, estimated to increase to about 700 mtpa by 2022, which will comfortably meet all the domestic cement demand.

Is it just the lack of political will and inefficiency? Or is it the scope of corruption available in laying bitumen roads that has kept the nation in a pothole? Most bitumen roads require a fresh layer in a year or two. And that works out very well for the bitumen road contractors.

Profit earned in laying one km of a tar road is almost four times of that earned in laying a concrete road. Plus, tar roads require relaying, thus assuring repeat business to the contractor. The economics here is very obvious and the road ministry is taking a bold step in going against this babu-contractor nexus.

Concrete

GMDC Inks Long-Term Limestone Supply Deal With JK Cement

The agreement has been signed for supply of 250 million tonne.

Published

15 hours ago

February 3, 2025

admin

State-owned GMDC said it has entered into a long-term pact with JK Cement Ltd for the supply of limestone from its upcoming mine in Gujarat.

The agreement has been signed for supply of 250 million tonnes of limestone over a period of 40 years from its upcoming Lakhpat Punrajpur Mine in Lakhpat Taluka of Kutch district in Gujarat.

This agreement will help JK Cement Ltd in setting up an integrated mega-capacity cement plant, fostering industrial growth in the region.Kutch’s coastal proximity, improved access to domestic and international markets, and cost-efficient logistics position it as an ideal hub for cement production.

The state-owned company has five operational lignite mines in Kutch, South Gujarat, and Bhavnagar region.

Concrete

GMDC, J K Cement Ltd. Tie-up for Limestone from Lakhpat Punrajpur Mine

This agreement underscores GMDC Ltd.’s commitment to fostering industrial growt

Published

23 hours ago

February 3, 2025

admin

Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (GMDC) has signed a Long-Term Supply Agreement (LSA) with JK Cement Ltd. for the supply of 250 million tonnes of limestone over a period of 40 years from its upcoming Lakhpat Punrajpur Mine in Lakhpat Taluka of Kutch District in Gujarat. The signing event was chaired by the Chairman of GMDC Ltd. Dr. Hasmukh Adhia, IAS (Retd.) on January 29, 2025 and the agreement was officially formalised by Roopwant Singh, IAS, Managing Director of GMDC Ltd., and Anuj Khandelwal, Business Head – Grey Cement of JK Cement Ltd., representing their respective organisations.

This agreement marks a strategic partnership towards monetising the large limestone asset of GMDC Ltd. and benefiting both the partners. It will support J K Cement Ltd. in setting up a greenfield integrated mega-capacity cement plant, fostering industrial growth in the region. The collaboration will stimulate investment, enhance industrial development, and generate thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities in Kutch, contributing significantly to the socio-economic progress of Gujarat. Kutch’s coastal proximity, improved access to domestic and international markets, and cost-efficient logistics position it as an ideal hub for cement production. Furthermore, this initiative will contribute substantially to the State Exchequer through revenue generation in the form of Royalty, National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) contributions, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds, and Goods & Services Tax (GST) on both limestone and cement production.

This agreement underscores GMDC Ltd.’s commitment to fostering industrial growth while ensuring the sustainable utilization of mineral resources, thereby strengthening Gujarat’s position as a leading industrial and economic State.

Concrete

JK Cement Acquires Majority Stake in Saifco Cement to Expand in J&K

Saifco has an annual turnover of around Rs 860 million.

Published

3 days ago

February 1, 2025

admin

JK Cement has made a significant move in its growth strategy by acquiring a 60% equity stake in Saifco Cement, a cement manufacturer based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The acquisition, valued at approximately Rs 1.74 billion, was approved during a board meeting on January 25, 2025.

Located in Khunmoh, Srinagar, Saifco’s integrated manufacturing unit, which includes both clinker and grinding capacities, aligns with JK Cement’s expansion plans. Saifco has an annual turnover of around Rs 860 million, and this acquisition not only strengthens JK Cement’s presence in the region but also offers a strategic advantage in the competitive Indian cement industry.

Saifco’s facility, spread across 54 acres, has a clinker capacity of 0.26 million tonnes per annum and a grinding capacity of 0.42 million tonnes per annum. The site also holds captive limestone reserves across 144.25 hectares, with a mineable reserve of 129 million tonnes.

This deal, which is expected to close after receiving regulatory approvals, allows JK Cement to tap into Saifco’s established infrastructure, sidestepping the time-consuming process of greenfield expansion. The acquisition will also position JK Cement to benefit from Saifco’s established market presence and supply chain.

The move signals JK Cement’s ambition to expand further in the Jammu and Kashmir market and beyond, positioning Saifco as a key regional player under JK Cement’s umbrella. The acquisition could also lead to potential job creation and greater economic opportunities for local suppliers. As part of the integration, JK Cement is expected to bring operational synergies, improving production efficiency and cost management.

This deal is seen as a model for regional consolidation in India’s growing cement industry, with JK Cement’s established brand and distribution network poised to enhance Saifco’s operations and product offerings in the region.

(Greater Kashmir)