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JSW Cement has been declared the preferred bidder for the Sikilangso Limestone Block in Assam following an e-auction conducted by the state government. The block, located in Dima Hasao district, covers 400 hectares across two parts. The development supports the company's long-term capacity expansion plans. Meanwhile, global aviation faced severe disruption after the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran, forcing the closure of major Middle East hubs and leading to widespread flight cancellations by leading international airlines.
JSW Cement Ltd has been declared the preferred bidder for the mining lease of the Sikilangso Limestone Block in Assam after participating in an e-auction conducted by the Government of Assam. The company informed stock exchanges that it secured preferred bidder status for both Part A and Part B of the limestone block. Advertisement
The Sikilangso Limestone Block is located in Umrangso in the Dima Hasao district of Assam. Block A and Block B each spread across 200 hectares, taking the total area to 400 hectares. The allocation strengthens the company's raw material security in the northeastern region, where infrastructure development has been expanding steadily.
JSW Cement is part of the USD 23 billion JSW Group, which has diversified interests across steel, energy, infrastructure and cement. As of December 31, 2025, the company had a cement grinding capacity of 21.60 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). It has outlined plans to expand its grinding capacity to 41.85 MTPA along with clinker capacity of 13.04 MTPA to strengthen its pan-India presence.
The company has been gradually expanding its footprint in eastern and northeastern India over the past few years, aligning with rising demand driven by public infrastructure spending and housing projects. Securing a limestone block is a key step for cement manufacturers as it ensures long-term availability of a primary raw material and supports cost efficiency.
In a separate development affecting global connectivity, international air travel remained heavily disrupted after the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran over the past weekend. The escalation led to the closure of major Middle Eastern aviation hubs including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi for a third consecutive day, stranding thousands of passengers and forcing airlines to cancel or reroute flights.
Several global carriers announced temporary suspensions and route adjustments. Air France cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh through March 3, while KLM indicated that services to Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam may remain disrupted through March 6 and suspended Tel Aviv operations. Air India suspended flights to and from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar through March 2 and also cancelled some Europe-bound services.
British Airways allowed customers travelling between London and cities including Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv until March 15 to change travel dates free of charge, with refund options available for near-term departures. Lufthansa suspended flights to several Middle Eastern destinations including Tel Aviv, Beirut and Tehran until March 8, and to Dubai until March 4.
Finnair halted Doha and Dubai services until March 6 and is avoiding the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Syria and Israel. ITA Airways suspended flights to Tel Aviv and extended its Dubai halt until March 4, while also pausing Riyadh services between March 2 and March 4. Carriers such as Emirates, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Wizz Air also announced temporary suspensions or cancellations across affected destinations.
The aviation disruption adds to the broader economic uncertainty in the region, impacting passenger travel, cargo movement and connecting international routes that pass through Gulf hubs.
Source PTI
FAQ
1. What has JSW Cement achieved in Assam?
JSW Cement Ltd has been declared the preferred bidder for the Sikilangso Limestone Block in Assam after participating in an e-auction conducted by the Government of Assam. The company secured preferred bidder status for both Part A and Part B of the block.
2. Where is the Sikilangso Limestone Block located?
The Sikilangso Limestone Block is located in Umrangso in the Dima Hasao district of Assam. Both Block A and Block B cover 200 hectares each, taking the total allocated area to 400 hectares.
3. Why is securing a limestone block important for a cement company?
Limestone is a primary raw material for cement manufacturing. Securing a captive limestone source ensures long-term raw material availability, reduces dependency on external suppliers, improves cost efficiency, and supports capacity expansion plans.
4. What is JSW Cement's current and planned production capacity?
As of December 31, 2025, JSW Cement had a cement grinding capacity of 21.60 MTPA. The company plans to expand its grinding capacity to 41.85 MTPA and clinker capacity to 13.04 MTPA to strengthen its presence across India, particularly in eastern and northeastern markets.
5. How does this allocation support regional development?
The allocation strengthens JSW Cement's raw material security in the northeastern region, where infrastructure and housing demand have been rising. It aligns with growing public infrastructure spending and regional development initiatives.
6. What caused the recent international flight disruptions?
International air travel was disrupted after the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran, leading to airspace closures across parts of the Middle East. Major aviation hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi were affected.
7. Which airlines were impacted by the Middle East airspace closures?
Several global carriers including Air France, KLM, Air India, British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, and Qatar Airways announced suspensions, rerouting, or cancellations due to safety concerns and operational restrictions.
8. What broader impact does this aviation disruption have?
The airspace closures and flight cancellations have affected passenger travel, cargo movement, and international connectivity through Gulf hubs. The disruption adds to economic uncertainty in the region and impacts airlines operating on key global routes.
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