Record output: TNPL produces 2.24 L MT of high grade cement

The initiative of producing high quality cement from the lime sludge and from fly ash generated from the Paper mill has led to conservation of about 62,299 MT of lime stone from natural resources in 20162017, according to papers tabled in the Legislative Assembly.

As per the model adopted by TNPL, cement is manufactured from inorganic sold waste generated from chemical recovery cycle and fly ash from Power boilers. “Every day, about 292 tonnes lime sludge and 74 tonnes fly ash from the power boilers are converted into high grade cement which is first of its kind in pulp and paper industry.

During 2016-2017, as much as 96,452 MT of lime sludge from the facility was utilized for cement manufacturing resulting in conservation of naturally available lime stone,” the report revealed.

“TNPL has increased the cement production from 1,96,573 MT in the previous year to 2,34,676 MT in the year 2016-2017.

It is the first company in the Paper industry to have established the facility for producing high grade cement from mill waste,” said Atulya Misra, chairman of the TNPL board.

TNPL’s cement manufacturing was expanded in January 2016 by former late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

The expansion helped the company step up its production to 900 tonnes per day from 600 tonnes. Promoted by the state, TNPL was founded in 1979 to bridge the gap between demand and supply of Newsprint in the country and to conserve foreign exchange reserves by reducing dependence on imports. The company earned an all-time high profit after tax of Rs 264.56 crore in 2016 – 2017. The sales turnover has crossed Rs 3,000 crore with the annual production capacity of 4 lakh MT. 

TNPL declared a dividend of 75 per cent for the year 2016 – 2017. As much as 71.29 crore units of power were generated by TNPL, of which 69.24 crore lakh units were consumed and 2.05 crore units were exported to state grid.