Cement maker UltraTech said it has commissioned a greenfield clinker capacity of 2.5 million tons per year at Manawar in Madhya Pradesh.
Clinker is raw cement made by heating ground limestone and clay at a temperature of about 1400 °C – 1500 °C. Cement is made by grinding the clinker and adding gypsum to control the setting properties.
Along with the kiln, the Aditya Birla Group company also commissioned a cement grinding facility of 1.75 mtpa (million tons per annum) capacity and an auto loading facility.
“Another cement grinding facility of 1.75 mtpa capacity as well as a waste heat recovery system of 13 MW capacity is under erection and both are expected to be completed before September, 2018,” it said.
This state-of-the-art manufacturing facility has been built with best in class safety standards, the company said.
The plant has been commissioned in less than 365 days, which the company said was a global benchmark for a plant of such capacity. The cost of setting up the plant was less than $90 per ton of capacity, it said.
“The Kiln is designed for multi fuel and the entire system of using alternative fuels , which enhances the energy efficiency and reduces environmental impact, is an integral part of the plant,” it said.
The company said it expects the plant, located in South West Madhya Pradesh, to cater to the local market effectively.
“There are no other cement manufacturing units within a radius of 300 kms,” it said.
“Currently, the cement demand in M.P. is growing close to double-digit mark and UltraTech’s existing plants in the State are already operating at over 85% utilisation level, well above industry benchmarks.
“This new plant will provide a strategic advantage to UltraTech for serving the growing cement demand from the State of Madhya Pradesh’s main industrial belt – the Dewas-Ratlam-Pithampur- lndore sector.”
The company expects to increase its local market share due to the plant.
“The Company will enhance its presence in the North markets, by re-allocating its capacities suitably.”
With the commissioning of this plant, UltraTech now has 19 integrated plants. The total cement manufacturing capacity stands at 96.5 mtpa.