India Cements to develop Coromandel limestone

India Cements has proposed the development of the Coromandel limestone mine in Chilamkur and Kalamalla, Mandal Yerraguntla, Andhra Pradesh. The project represents an investment of INR1650m (US$24.6m), including the cost of the land.

The 413ha site would yield around 3Mta of limestone, which the company would use for captive consumption at a new 2Mta greenfield clinker plant, located next to an existing plant at Chilamkur. The limestone will be excavated by conventional opencast mechanised mining.

With estimated mineable reserves of 98.84Mt, it is expected that production at the mine would continue for 33 years. Subject to the necessary clearances, production is expected to start in January 2017.