Lafarge could build a second plasterboard plant near Turceni

This material results from a process of desulphurisation that takes place at the Turceni Energy Complex, according to market sources.
The decision of the French group comes in the wake of a continuous increase in plasterboard consumption and after its main rivals Rigips (a part of the Saint Gobain group) and Knauf Gips (the local division of the German group Knauf) also announced expansion plans on the local market.
Plasterboard plants can use synthetic gypsum as a replacement for natural gypsum, given the fact that introducing a quarry takes about two years.
“We are examining several possibilities of expanding the operations of our local subsidiaries, and one of them is building a plant near the thermal power station. However, the decision on building the plant depends on how long it takes to make the power station more environmentally friendly,” say Lafarge representatives.
The biggest investment on the plasterboard market is worth around 70 million euros, and has been announced by German group Knauf, which targets a location near Cluj-Napoca. Lafarge representatives did not wish to provide details on the value of the investment, but, according to market estimates, the budget could exceed 20 -30 million euros.
The Turceni Energy Complex runs the risk of being shut down within the next five years, unless it complies with the environmental policy that applies in the EU.
The energy producer has started an environmental investment programme, which will also include desulphurisation equipment.
At the beginning of the year, Austrian group A-Tec announced it would build a desulphurisation installation worth around 220 million euros.
Lafarge Arcom Gips, the local subsidiary of the Lafarge group, finalised a 17 million-euro investment last year, in a new production line of its plasterboard plant in Bucharest. The sum included the opening of a stone quarry in Prahova county and the upgrade of calcination equipment used in the manufacture of plasterboard. The plant’s annual production capacity amounts to 15 million cubic metres of plasterboard.
Lafarge Arcom Gips was set up in 2001, after Lafarge took over 50% of the shares held by Arcom Bucuresti in the plant near Bucharest. Later, Lafarge boosted its stake to 90%, and Arcom retained 10% in Lafarge Arcom Gips.