Holcim invests in environmental protection

Holcim Romania, a branch of the Swiss Holcim group, one of the world’s top producers of construction materials, is speeding up investments in environmental protection. This is considered to be a delicate issue within the integration negotiations between Romania and the European Union.

The Swiss, who are developing cement, concrete and aggregates production operations, had invested more than 15 million euros in environmental protection projects by the end of last year. They have furthermore earmarked another 40 million euros for projects in this area to be carried out by 2006, according to the company’s representatives.

Such projects will concern the use of alternative fuels and raw materials, the modernisation of cement production lines and stations, labour protection and health, social and human resources plans.

“Holcim’s environmental targets deal with gas emissions reduction, with waste processing, and therefore involve the protection of natural resources. In 2004, we have in view investments worth 20 million euros, especially aimed at taking the modernisation of cement plants further, inaugurating new ecological concrete stations, as well modernising traditional ones,” states Kurt Habersatter, chairman and general manager of Holcim Romania.

Holcim is the world’s second biggest producer of cement. The Swiss group entered the Romanian market in 1997. Holcim Romania holds three cement plants in Alesd (Bihor county), Turda and Campulung. On a cement market with sales estimated at 235-245 million euros per year, Holcim covers around a third of the domestic market, in close competition with Lafarge (France) and HeidelbergCement (Germany).
adrian.mirsanu@zf.ro