PRESS RELEASE

10 November 2006

Aditya Birla Group concludes MoU for Rs.1200 crore cement project in Orissa

Grasim Industries Limited, a flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group and the state government of Orissa concluded an MoU today to set up a 3.5 million tpa integrated cement plant in the Sundergarh District in Orissa. The plant will involve an investment Rs.1200 crore and will include a 50 MW captive thermal power plant with a split grinding unit.

This is expected to be the largest cement project in Orissa and is expected to be commissioned in three years.

The state government has agreed to assist in acquisition of the necessary limestone mines and land for the plant as well as for a rail link, apart from adequate sources of fly ash, slag and coal .

The MoU was signed by Shri I. Srinivas,I.A.S., Commissioner-Cum-Secretary, Department of Industry, for the government of Orissa and by Shri S. K. Maheswari, Group Executive President, Aditya Birla Group and Chief Manufacturing & Project Officer of the Group's Cement Business, on behalf of Grasim Industries Limited.