FEBRUARY 20268JK CEMENT LAUNCHES RS 500 CRORE GRINDING UNIT PROJECT IN BIKANERINDIA'S RESERVES CAN HANDLE 74 DAY CRISIS, SAYS MINISTER PURIJK Cement has started work on a new Bikaner grinding unit in Rajasthan, marking another major step in its capacity expansion plan.The company has started its construction following the Bhoomi Poojan ceremony of the 500 crore project expected to increase its presence in North India and enhance supply efficiency in most of its markets.The proposed unit will be able to produce 2 million tonnes per annum initially. It will be constructed on almost 100 acres at Jaipur-Bikaner highway, a point that was selected to enhance the logistics and accelerate the delivery to the whole of Rajasthan and other states. Under this project, JK Cement will have gone further to bring manufacturing nearer to the demand centers, and minimize transportation expenses.Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri confirms India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) can last up to 74 days in case of international supply disruptions when he addressed the Rajya Sabha.This strategic petroleum reserve helps provide India with energy security so that we are not affected by severe international crises.It is also true that India possesses the world's fourth-largest oil refining capacity, with ambitions to double its capacity from 260 million metric tonnes to 320 million metric tonnes yearly, makes it the world's third-largest consumer of crude oil and the world's fifth-largest exporter of petroleum products.TOP STORIESPuri emphasized the importance of a strategic reserve to secure economic stability, particularly in times of global turbulence. He stated, "The strategic petroleum reserve is designed to ensure that in case of total global turbulence, we must have enough stock left to meet our needs."Currently, India's reserves are held in caverns located in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, with expansion plans underway for Odisha. Together with the reserves at refineries and floating platforms, the total stock lasts for 74 days, although the International Energy Agency (IEA) recommends 90 days.The government, through Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL), has built SPR facilities with a total capacity of 5.33 million metric tonnes across three locations. As of now, 77% of the reserve is filled, with 50% used for commercial purposes.During the COVID-19 period, India took advantage of low prices, filling its reserves to full capacity, saving approximately Rs 5,000 crore. The Bikaner plant will be the 20th manufacturing plant of the company in its grey and white cement portfolio once it commences operations. The construction work will start this year and commercial production is planned to be completed in March 2027. The unit will be important in the company to satisfy the increased demand of cement in the region due to the growth of infrastructure, housing, and industries.Speaking at the ground-breaking event, Raghavpat Singhania, managing director, JK Cement, said, "The Bhoomi Poojan project is an important part of the company's long-term growth strategy. He added that Rajasthan continues to be a crucial market for JK Cement and that the new unit will help bring manufacturing closer to customers while contributing to regional development and employment generation."The Bikaner grinding unit is also expected to support local economic growth by creating direct and indirect employment while boosting ancillary industries in the region. TOP STORIES
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