Rs 13,000 cr of cement projects deferred

Kolkata : The ambitious expansion plans of cement manufacturers face deferral and some are running behind schedule. About Rs 13,000 crore of projects have been deferred, while no new clinker capacities have been ordered since April.

Kesoram Industries, the BK Birla-promoted company has deferred plans of putting up a 2.5-million tonne (mt) unit at a cost of Rs 1,160 crore, said KC Jain, director. The cement arm of the Dalmia Group, which has annual capacity of nine mt in the southern region, had major plans of adding 10 mtpa in 2008. After the economic turmoil, it hasn’t launched any project or equipment order. The Puneet Dalmia-headed arm had a capex plan of Rs 4,200 crore for this and had also received private equity infusion of Rs 750 crore from global giant Kohlberg Kravis and Roberts.