ACC to increase manufacturing capacity from 5.3 to 6.3 MT

Kolkata, May 03 (UNI) ACC, the leading cement company, in its major expansion spree in the east, will increase the total manufacturing capacity from 5.3 to 6.3 million tonnes by 2008.

As a part of the expansion, the ACC would invest Rs 540 crore for its Bargarh factory in Orissa to build the additional one million tonne capacity.

Speaking at a press conference here today, after unveiling its new product 'Foundation to Roof' cement, ACC Business Head (east) Ramit Budhraja said, '' The current capacity of Bargarh factory is 1.2 million tonne and after the expansion is over we will have an additional one million tonne. Our board has already approved the investment plan.'' The Chaibasa factory in Jharkhand is already undergoing expansion with an investment of Rs 300 crore and the production capacity of this factory would also be increased, he added.

'' We also have investment plans for Bengal but that is subject to board approval,'' he said.

ACC is depending on both organic and inorganic route of expansion and had entered into share subscription agreement in Orissa-based Shiva Cement with a capacity of 1.3 lakh tonne where ACC would hold 12 per cent share which would be slowly increased.

UNI