Lafarge in Russia

Lafarge may be purchasing a number of plants that produce construction materials in Russia, company executive director Bruno Lafont told the press in Chelyabinsk. Lafarge already owns controlling stock interests in Voskresensktsement (Moscow region) and Uraltsement (Chelyabinsk region). The French company want to continue developing its business in Russia, Lafont said. It owns 150 construction materials plants in various countries around the world, all told.

He noted that Lafarge has given Uraltsement the job of increasing cement output from 550,000-600,000t a year to 1Mt on the strength of technical re-outfitting. Uraltsement is to get energy-saving equipment and cut its gas emissions into the atmosphere in particular.

The technical condition of Uraltsement’s production equipment is being evaluated, Lafont reported. Investment in the plant’s overhaul will be determined after a technical project is worked out, he said, adding that the next five to ten years could see US$10-$50m invested in the enterprise’s reconstruction.

Lafont announced that the Urals enterprise will be making cement carrying the Lafarge name in the future.