Lafarge Ciment Romania to invest EUR 58 million in 2008

Besides, Lafarge's division of concrete and aggregates will get EUR 40 million in the next two years to expand by 50 percent the production capacity of this division and to purchase some production facilities, according to Bruno Roux, general manager of Lafarge Agregate si Betoane division. Lafarge Romania plans to increase the cement production with 1 million tons by the end of 2008 at the three facilities at Hoghiz, Medgidia and Targu-Jiu. In the first stage to be conducted by yearend, Lafarge plans to add 500,000 tons of cement to the current production capacity. The group also plans investments in power units in order to sustain the company's energy consumption, a decision to be made in the next year, according to Philippe Questiaux, president and general manager of Lafarge Ciment Romania.
Lafarge Romania estimates a turnover of EUR 400 million by yearend, with almost 60 percent more compared to 2006, when Lafarge registered a turnover of EUR 260 million, according to the company. Worldwide, the group totaled a turnover of EUR 17 billion, on a global cement consumption estimated at 5 percent increase yearly, which means 100 million tons, according to Lafarge representatives. According to data disclosed by cement producers' association, the local cement market will reach 10 million tons by yearend, totaling EUR 800 million.

Magda Purice