ACC to ramp up capacity to 30 mtpa by year-end

Cement major ACC plans to ramp up its production capacity to 30 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) from 26 million tonnes by end-this year, a top company official said.

"We plan to scale-up our installed capacity to 30 million tonnes," ACC's Chairman N S Sekhsaria told shareholders at the company's 74th Annual General Meeting here today.

The new clinkering line at Chanda in Maharashtra is expected to be commissioned during the year--this will add 3 million tonnes per annum. In 2011, the company plans to add another 2 million tonnes.

The company has lined-up a capex of Rs 1,300 crore for FY11 as compared to Rs 1,600 crore last year, he said.

The cement major has also initiated a dialogue with Indian Railways on the latter's policy on private investment in railway wagons after facing problems related to production dispatches, ACC's Managing Director, Sumit Banerjee, told reporters on the sidelines of the AGM.

"We are in dialogue with Indian Railways on its policy for private investment in wagons following small stoppages in our dispatches in Rajasthan and Jharkhand," Banerjee said.

In order to enhance its limestone reserves in Rajasthan, the company has acquired a 100 per cent equity stake in National Limestone Company (NLCPL).