Shimla, Sep 18 - The Himachal Pradesh government Friday allowed leading cement manufacturer ACC Ltd to utilise the waste exhaust kiln gases for generating electricity, according to government officials.

'The government Friday allowed ACC to generate 8 MW power from kiln gases produced at its plant in Barmana. The electricity would be used for its own consumption,' Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop told reporters here.

She said the decision in this regard was taken by the state cabinet.

'This would not only help preserve the surrounding environment from pollution but also generate power that can be utilised by the company for the production of cement,' Swaroop said.

Other cement companies would also be encouraged to generate electricity from their kilns, she added.

The ACC plant in Bilaspur district, 110 km from Shimla, is one of the major cement plants in the state.