Rajasthan Shree Cement Expands Capacity With RAS Unit
Shree Cement has brought a new clinker and cement production line online at its integrated complex in Jaitaran, Rajasthan, marking a significant scale-up at one of Asia’s most substantial single-location cement manufacturing hubs. The commissioning of RAS Unit-11 expands the site’s output capacity and underlines the company’s strategic focus on meeting booming infrastructure demand in North India while navigating operational efficiency and sustainability considerations.Â
The newly operational unit adds roughly 3.65 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of clinker capacity and nearly 3 MTPA of finished cement output at Jaitaran, part of a broader manufacturing portfolio that now positions Shree Cement’s overall Indian capacity near 66 MTPA. Industry analysts say this expansion reinforces the plant’s role as a strategic supply point for high-growth markets driven by urbanisation, housing demand and public capital expenditure on infrastructure. The Jaitaran facility, long a linchpin in Shree Cement’s network, integrates multiple production stages — from raw material processing and clinkerisation to grinding — at a single location. This integration lowers logistics costs and improves supply reliability to downstream markets, particularly across Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Urban development experts note that as cities in the region expand rapidly, proximity to high-capacity cement sources can moderate construction costs and support faster delivery of housing and transport projects.Â
Beyond sheer scale, the new unit reflects broader industrial trends toward efficiency and environmental performance. The facility incorporates advanced automation and process technologies, along with a 22 MW waste heat recovery (WHR) system that captures energy from production exhaust gases. Use of alternative fuels further aligns the expansion with sectoral moves toward lower carbon intensity — a notable consideration given cement’s traditionally high emissions footprint.Â
Urban planners and climate resilience advocates are paying close attention to how such large-scale manufacturing expansions navigate environmental trade-offs. Cement production is energy-intensive and contributes substantially to industrial CO₂ emissions, yet modern plants with WHR systems and integrated logistics can achieve meaningful reductions in energy use per tonne of output. Aligning these advances with India’s climate commitments and state sustainability objectives remains a key challenge for the sector. For local economies, the expanded plant promises sustained employment and supply chain activity. While precise job figures tied to the new unit have not been publicly disclosed, similar capacity expansions in the industry have historically driven both direct and indirect employment in logistics, maintenance, and allied services. For small towns like Jaitaran, this can be a catalyst for peripheral economic activity and infrastructure enhancement.
Looking ahead, cement demand across India is expected to remain robust on the back of government infrastructure programmes and private real estate development. As Shree Cement and peers invest in capacity growth, balancing supply stability, carbon reduction, and community impact will be central to sustainable urban expansion.