Since entering the Russian market in 2001 with the acquisition of the 1Mta Cesla cement plant, HeidelbergCement has expanded its local operations significantly. In this exclusive interview, Mihail Polendakov, general manager of HeidelbergCement Russia, speaks to ICR about plans for the future and adapting to changing demand requirements.
From the single Cesla cement plant in the city of Slantsy, Leningrad region, HeidelbergCement has grown its operations in Russia to include three cement plants, two terminals and one aggregate facility. With Russia’s market dynamics changing rapidly, the company is adapting to shifts in requirements.
ICR: Has HeidelbergCement’s growth in Russia been achieved organically, through acquisitions, or both? What is the company’s current footprint in the country?
Mihail Polendakov (MP): We have managed to build a brand new cement plant of 2Mta capacity next to our raw material limestone deposits near the village of Novogurovsky, Tula region. The plant was commissioned on 14 July 2011. Currently it is fully utilised and we sell all the cement that it produces.
In addition, we finally acquired 100 per cent control of CMC, our cement plant in Sterlitamak, Republic of Bashkortostan, in 2013.
In the Russian Federation [RF], we currently have a capacity of around 5Mta.
