UltraTech to expand capacity to 71.2 MT by March 2016: KM Birla.

Aditya Birla Group flagship UltraTech Cement is poised to take its capacity to 71.2 million tonne per annum (MTPA) by March 31 next year on the back of ongoing projects as well as recent acquisitions, Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla said recently. "Despite the cement industry being snowed under the slowdown in the rural economy, lack of investment from both private and public sector coupled with the overall sluggish demand, UltraTech had put in a commendable performance...With the on-going projects underway, the capacity in India will grow to 71.2 MTPA by the end of FY 2015-16," Birla said addressing shareholders at the company's AGM recently. He said UltraTech's directors have approved the acquisition of the cement units of Jaiprakash Associates Limited, situated at Bela and Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh. "With this an additional 4.9 MTPA capacity and thermal power generation capacity of 180 MW will be added. This acquisition will raise UltraTech's cement capacity in India from 60.2 MTPA to 65.1 MTPA," he said. Acquisition of the Gujarat units of Jaypee Cement Corporation Limited has been completed and the acquired facilities comprise an integrated unit at Sewagram and a grinding unit at Wanakbori, with a combined capacity of 4.8 MTPA.