Major investments from the JSW Group and Vedanta to set up cement plants in Punjab are reportedly awaiting approval from the state government. The firms intend to establish cement manufacturing plants in the state for an overall investment of Rs 10,000 crore.
According to a PTI report citing anonymous sources, the Vedanta Group company and Talwandi Sabo Power Plant (TSPL) have plans to set up cement plants in Punjab, and TSPL is also setting up one cement plant in collaboration with the JSW Group. Notably, TSPL has an existing power plant in the Mansa district in Punjab.
The fly ash from the power plant will be used by the company to manufacture cement. However, these projects are on hold at the moment and await approvals from several state government departments, sources revealed.
The cement project has the potential to create more than 2,000 jobs in Punjab. Sources further stated that TSPL’s proposal has been waiting for a nod from the Punjab government’s office of the Chief Town Planner and Director of Factories for 18 months.
This has happened despite the assurance given at the Invest Punjab Summit in 2023 at the highest level. Recently, TSPL approached the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, asking for intervention to expedite the process. Notably, TSPL is a major power producer in Punjab and operates a 1,980 MW thermal power plant in Mansa.
The report quoted sources and said that the firm is asking change intends to produce cement in an environmentally friendly manner by using fly ash generated from the power plant. The company is looking for a change in land usage needed for a cement grinding unit, they said.
Sources further revealed that the project has yet to be able to take off due to the lack of approval for change in land use. Additionally, indefinite delays could further cause investors to opt for opportunities in more favourable states, sources added.
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