Belgians after Romanian lime

Belgian Carmeuse Group, one of the leading players on the European lime market, is preparing an expansion of its Romanian operations. To that end, it is now setting aside cash for acquisitions, new productive facilities and retooling of those it already owns. The Belgians have recently bought two factories from German HeidelbergCement Group under a 10 million-euro deal on a market some players estimate at approximately 30 million euros. At present, Carmeuse is integrating its Romanian operations, following takeover of Temelia Brasov from HeidelbergCement, with Carmeuse Romania, the local branch of the group that co-ordinates three plants and accounts for 25% of the domestic market, established on August 1. “We have not begun the talks yet, but we are considering buying the lime producing facility in Fieni, whose yearly output reaches 70-80,000 tonnes a year and is held by German HeidelbergCement Group. We will probably conduct talks (over the facility in Fieni i.e.) next year. We are also contemplating the construction of new productive facilities over the next few years,” Neculae Stinghe, general manager of Carmeuse Romania SA, told Ziarul Financiar. ZF