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The Indian cement industry is the second largest producer of quality cement, which meets
global standards. The cement industry comprises 130 large cement plants and more than 300
mini cement plants. The industry's capacity at the end of the year reached 188.97 million tons
which was 166.73 million tons at the end of the year 2006-07. Cement production during
April to March 2007-08 was 168.31 million tons as compared to 155.66 million tons during
the same period for the year 2006-07.Despatches were 167.67 million tons during April to
March 2007- 08 whereas 155.26 during the same period. During April-March 2007-08,
cement export was 3.65 million tons as compared to 5.89 during the same period.
Cement industry in India is currently going through a consolidation phase. Some examples of
consolidation in the Indian cement industry are: Gujarat Ambuja taking a stake of 14 per cent
in ACC, and taking over DLF Cements and Modi Cement; ACC taking over IDCOL; India
Cement taking over Raasi Cement and Sri Vishnu Cement; and Grasim's acquisition of the
cement business of L&T, Indian Rayon's cement division, and Sri Digvijay Cements. Foreign
cement companies are also picking up stakes in large Indian cement companies. Swiss
cement major Holcim has picked up 14.8 per cent of the promoters' stake in Gujarat Ambuja
Cements (GACL). Holcim's acquisition has led to the emergence of two major groups in the
Indian cement industry, the Holcim-ACC-Gujarat Ambuja Cements combine and the Aditya
Birla group through Grasim Industries and Ultratech Cement. Lafarge, the French cement
major has acquired the cement plants of Raymond and Tisco. Italy based Italcementi has
acquired a stake in the K.K. Birla promoted Zuari Industries' cement plant in Andhra Pradesh,
and German cement company Heidelberg Cement has entered into an equal joint-venture
agreement with S P Lohia Group controlled Indo-Rama Cement.

While adding fresh capacities, the cement manufacturers are very conscious of the
technology used. In cement production, raw materials preparation involves primary and
secondary crushing of the quarried material, drying the material (for use in the dry process) or
undertaking a further raw grinding through either wet or dry processes, and blending the
materials. Clinker production is the most energy-intensive step, accounting for about 80% of
the energy used in cement Production. Produced by burning a mixture of materials, mainly
limestone, silicon oxides, aluminum, and iron oxides, clinker is made by o ne of two
production processes: wet or dry; these terms refer to the grinding processes although other
configurations and mixed forms (semi-wet, semi-dry) exist for both types. In the dry process,
the raw materials are ground, mixed, and fed into the kiln in their dry state. In the wet
process, the crushed and proportioned materials are ground with water, mixed, and fed into
the kiln in the form of slurry.

Different types of cement that are produced in India are:

‡ Ordinary Portland cement (OPC):

OPC, popularly known as grey cement, has 95 per cent clinker and 5 per cent gypsum and
other materials. It accounts for 70 per cent of the total consumption.

‡ Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC):

PPC has 80 per cent clinker, 15 per cent pozzolana and 5 per cent gypsum and accounts for
18 per cent of the total cement consumption. It is manufactured because it uses fly ash/burnt
clay/coal waste as the main ingredient.

‡ White Cement:
White cement is basically OPC - clinker using fuel oil (instead of coal) with iron oxide
content below 0.4 per cent to ensure whiteness. A special cooling technique is used in its
production. It is used to enhance aesthetic value in tiles and flooring. White cement is much
more expensive than grey cement.

‡ Portland Blast Furnace Slag Cement (PBFSC):

PBFSC consists of 45 per cent clinker, 50 per cent blast furnace slag and 5 per cent gypsum
and accounts for 10 per cent of the total cement consumed. It has a heat of hydration even
lower than PPC and is generally used in the construction of dams and similar massive
constructions.

‡ Specialized Cement:
Oil Well Cement is made from clinker with special additives to prevent any porosity.

‡ Rapid Hardening Portland cement:

Rapid Hardening Portland Cement is similar to OPC, except that it is ground much finer, so
that on casting, the compressible strength increases rapidly.
‡ Water Proof Cement:
Water Proof Cement is similar to OPC, with a small portion of calcium stearate or non-
saponifibale oil to impart waterproofing properties.