MINERAL SECTOR

200 TPD Cement Project in Manipur :

4.2.2    Demand, Supply and Prospect: There is a bright prospect for developing cement industries in Manipur. The principal major consumers of cement in the State are the State Government  departments and various industries and private individuals. The present annual demand of cement in Manipur is roughly 1.86  lakh tonne. Assuming a growth rate of 13.2%, the projected demand of cement in the State year wise for the years from 2002 to 2006 are estimated below:

2002                                        1,85,879 MT

2003                                        2,10,415 MT

2004                                        2,38,190 MT

2005                                        2,69,631 MT  

2006                                        3,05,222 MT

Viewing from the volume of demand of cement indicated above, it is highly prospective to put up new cement units in the State, at least a 200 TPD plant. Since about 87% of the total raw material requirement are limestone and clay which are locally available and considering the huge transportation cost involved in bringing cement from outside the State, setting up of new cement units in the State has definite economically competitive advantage. The product from such local units will also have a ready market in Myanmar through Moreh since the Indo-Myanmar border trade is now flourishing. Measuring the competitive advantage of export alone to Myanmar, Manipur thus has a distinct investment potential in cement industry.

4.2.3    Availability of limestone: A number of limestone occurrences have been located in Manipur.  Of them, two clusters of limestone bodies - one at Phungyar and the other at Meiring in Ukhrul District - are recommended for obtaining the requirements of the new cement unit. The former deposit is composed of 3 limestone bands in a cluster located at about 5 Km. from Phungyar Village, while the later is near Meiring Village about 8 Km. from the Phungyar deposit. Both the villages are on a State highway the limestone deposits are nearby the respective villages. The Phungyar limestone have been explored in fair detail with drilling. Preliminary investigation has been carried out for the Meiring limestone and it is now being further explored with drilling. Both the deposits are of cement grade. The Phungyar deposits have been estimated at 6.35 million tonne and the Meiring limestone will make up another reserve of about 5.76 million tonne. These reserves will be more than sufficient for a 200 TPD cement plant.(Recommended minimum requirement of limestone for 200 TPD VSK cement plant is 5.40 million tonnes). Different limestone occurrences of the State are shown in the table below:

Limestone occurrences:

4.2.4    Location: The project may be located at Yaingangpokpi, about 26 Km. from Imphal on the Imphal-Ukhrul road and 82 Km. from Phungyar limestone deposits, or somewhere nearer to Imphal, the State Capital and main marketing centre of the product.

4.2.5    Infrastructure available

a)      Power: There is a 132/33 KV power distributing station at Yaingangpokpi. Therefore, there shall be no problem for power if the project site is located at Yaingangpokpi.

b)      Communication : Yaingangpokpi and Phungyar are connected with Imphal,  the State capital, by an all weather state highway. However, for mining and transportation of limestone it will be necessary to improve the approach road from Phungyar Village to the limestone deposits. 

c)      Water Supply: The proposed project area is fed by two small perennial streams, viz. the Thamnapokpi river and the Maramkhog Nala. Further, when the Thoubal Dam is commissioned there shall be no problem of water in the area.

4.2.6    Infrastructure to be established:  Main infrastructure required to be established and their approximate expenditures are given below :

(Rs. In lakhs)

4.2.7    Utility Requirements: The major utility requirements are power of 3,000 KVA (approximately) and water @ 3.60 lakh litre per day.

4.2.8    Mining of Limestone: To meet the requirement of limestone for the proposed cement project, the limestone deposits at Phungyar and Meiring will need be exploited. For this purpose, first of all it is necessary to ensure the creation of the required infrastructures. Quarry haul roads to Phungyar and Meiring Limestone with a total length of about 18 Km. will be required to be constructed. Further, it will be necessary for the mining establishment to have permanent mines office, staff accommodation, power and water supply arrangements, magazine house, rest shelter, etc. in addition to the procurement of mining equipment and machinery.

4.2.9    Total Project Cost: A project report is yet to be prepared. However, an approximate estimate can be worked out based on the available information. The standard cost of the plant proper of a 200 TPD capacity is about Rs. 2,250/- lakhs. Adding this amount to the cost of infrastructural development and mining indicated earlier, the total cost of the project is estimated at Rs. 3,341/- lakh as under : 

I.        Infrastructural Development            -           Rs.    518 lakh

II.     Plant Proper                                   -           Rs. 2,250 lakh

III.   Mining                                            -           Rs.    573 lakh

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                                                                  Rs. 3,341 lakh

Project profile in the prescribed proforma is given in the Annexure.

4.2.10  Serpentinite and Idocrase Processing Industries

4.2.11  Prospects :

            Serpentinites occur extensively in Chandel and Ukhrul Districts of Manipur within the Ophiolite Belt which spread over about 1600 sq. km. of area.

            Serpentinites are also commercially known as ‘Green Marble’. It, like granite and marble, can be processed into monuments, tiles, slabs and other building blocks.  It is considered that the serpentinites have a huge market potential, both as finished product and  in raw forms, both within India and outside.  Countries in the South-East Asia and the Middle East could be the important buyers. So far Manipur is concerned, it could become a most important mineral industry generating large scale employment and appreciable export earnings.

            Idocrase has been found occurring in the host Serpentinites as pockets and lenses and also as floats. The massive green variety of Idocrase is also commercially called `Californite Jade’ as misnomer. As recommended by the Gem Testing Laboratory, Jaipur of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, the Idocrase may be cut and polished into any shape and cutting style which may be used as semi-precious jewellery items. The carving process may yield decorative items like ash-trays, penstands, leaves, idols, or any other figure, bangles, etc. The processing industry is highly labour intensive with minimal infrastructure and fixed capital requirement.  Further, through an extension from the Idocrase processing industry, Manipur will have a good potential for setting up gemstones cutting and polishing industry. Because, the traditional skill of high degree of excellence of the people, particularly women, of Manipur for dexterous handiwork is remarkable and it is the skill which matters most in the trade.

            In view of the above, the State Government has taken up steps to explore and exploit the serpentinites and Idocrase deposits and set up processing industries for cutting and polishing of both the materials and also to promote the development of gemstones cutting and polishing industries.

4.2.12  Exploration

            Although the occurrences of serpentinites are extensive, at places they are weathered, fractured and jointed. It is, therefore, essential to explore the industrially desirable blocks of the rock devoid  of such features. Another important aspect is to avoid inclusion of easily corrosive minerals such as carbonates as far as possible. In order to achieve systematic and planned production of both serpentinite and Idocrase it is necessary to make precise identification and assessment  of the reserve and quality of workable compact blocks in the case of serpentinites and clusters in regard to Idocrase. Some such block and clusters have already been identified, but intensive exploration covering large area is still awaited for large scale exploration and investments. Appropriate mining methods should also be identified.

4.2.13  Project Cost 

            A typical project cost for production of 5,00,000 sq. fit. of different sizes of serpentinite tiles (viz. 5” x 10”, 10” x 10”, 6” x 12”, 12” x 12” and larger slabs) is about Rs. 18.76 crores as given below:

1.      Land & Development                                             105.00

2.      Building & other civil works                                    383.00

3.      Plant & Machinery                                      765.00

4.      Power Connection & D G Set                                   90.00

5.      Materials Handling equipment                                 225.00

6.      Water supply arrangements                                  75.00

7.      Post & Pre-operative expenses                                83.00

8.      Working capital Margin                                                150.00

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                                                Total                                       1876.00

Project profile in the prescribed proforma is given in the Annexure.