Tamil Nadu Cement Corporation Ltd (TANCEM) to offload 25 per cent cement production in open market

TIRUCHIRAPALLI: In a boon to public reeling under spiralling construction cost, state-owned Tamil Nadu Cement Corporation Ltd (TANCEM) has decided to sell at least 25 per cent of its total production in the open market at competitive price. TANCEM, which usually supplies cement to state government departments like PWD, Electricity Board and DRDA, has two factories in the state with a total installed capacity of eight lakh tonnes per annum, company sources said. The company had sold cement in open market for a brief period between December 2009 and July 2010 but reverted back to direct sales to government departments. However, cement sales to departmental works had come down of late due to various reasons including suspension of civil works, following which the management of TANCEM had decided to sell cement in open market, company sources at its plant in Ariyalur, about 60 km from here, said. It has been now decided to market cement to both bulk and retail cusomers in the private sectors, according to sources. Besides Ariyalur factory with an annual production capacity of six lakh tonnes, TANCEM has a unit at Alangulam in Virudhunagar District with a two lakh tonnes capacity. In 2010-11, the Ariyalur unit recorded a production of 4.90 lakh tonnes, the sources said. They said the company would be able to sell its 'Super Star brand' ordinary portland cement (43 grade) at Rs 270 per bag (50 kg) as against the prevailing market price of Rs 300.