According to the European Rubber Journal, Aditya Birla has declined to confirm reports that it is planning to build a new carbon black plant in Sri Lanka. Dr. Rakesh Jain, Birla’s global director for carbon black, was quoted as saying, “We are always exploring new opportunities that will help create shareholders’ value and grow the business. As of this moment, it is premature to comment on our plans.” The ERJ article is here (subscription required).
Plans for the new plant were discussed in a previous post available here. The information was based on a press release and statements by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Enterprise Development.
This was an interesting one. I contacted the company seeking a simple confirmation of all the press reports in India and the press release from the Sri Lanka Development Agency. They refused to confirm the story in any way. First theydelayed by almost a week, and when I finally pressed them, they issued that very bland statement.
I was amazed. It might mean nothing other more sinister than the company has not yet formally signed on the dotted line, or it might mean — and I think this the most likely — that Birla has a number of options, one being the original site on India’s East (??) coast, and the other being in Sri Lanka, and they are still working out which will be the best for them.
We’ll see what happens.
Comment by David Shaw — February 15, 2008 @ 11:55 am
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