While Holcim is not commenting on the pending investment decision to reinvest and perhaps even expand production at its NZ manufacturing facility in Oamaru, rather than in Aust, there are high hopes in Govt circles a NZ investment will be preferred, perhaps because of certainty here about the ETS - a key consideration for a heavy-emitting industry such as cement. Other than to confirm it is likely in the first quarter of 2011,
Holcim announced in July it was exploring export opportunities for the intermediate product, clinker, as a way to strengthen the business case for its proposed cement plant at Weston, near Oamaru, after sales dropped by 20% in 2009 during the recession. However, Holcim’s NZ office stresses the business operates globally, and investment decisions will not be driven just by comparison with Aust, where Holcim has completed the integration of Cement Australia’s four cement plants and two distribution terminals into the Aust operation.
