LafargeHolcim to strengthen presence in India
Group to invest CHF200 million in new cement plant to drive further growth in the country
LafargeHolcim are to strengthen their presence in India with the construction of a new cement plant in the state of Rajasthan. The CHF200 million investment will serve customers in the north of the country, including Delhi.
Jan Jenisch (pictured), group chief executive officer of LafargeHolcim, said: ‘India is the second biggest global cement market and is forecasted to continue to see high growth rates. We are excited to invest in this highly attractive market to further strengthen our footprint and to reinforce our leading building materials position in India.’
LafargeHolcim are one of the largest foreign investors in India’s building material industry and since entering the Indian market have spent more than CHF8 billion to build up their equity participation as well as maintain and expand plant capacities.
The Group operates in the country through Ambuja Cement and ACC Ltd, both of whom have well-known brands marketed through their networks of some 100,000 dealers and retailers.
LafargeHolcim have a nationwide footprint across India and more than 60 million tonnes of cement capacity. They have more than 13,000 employees in the country and operate 29 cement plants and more than 60 ready-mixed concrete plants. In 2016 LafargeHolcim’s net sales in India amounted to around CHF3.2 billion.
The new plant, which is being set up by the Group’s subsidiary Ambuja Cement, will have a clinker capacity of 3.1 million tonnes per year and commissioning of the plant is expected in the second half of 2020.
LafargeHolcim have also been involved in a range of major projects in India including high-rise residential towers, highway and railroad projects. Most recently LafargeHolcim have played a key role in the construction of India’s longest highway tunnel located in the country’s northern state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Other projects include metro systems in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and Hyderabad, and several hydro-electric power plants.
