The Romanian unit of Holcim said on Wednesday it would invest some EUR2.8m (US$3.7m) in environment protection projects this year.  
 
"With the investments that we have made and that we will make in environment protection we aim to comply with a recent decision of the Council of Europe on the reduction of CO2 emissions and global warming and greenhouse effect prevention," Holcim Romania general manager Markus Wirth said in a statement.  
 
Holcim Romania spent more than EUR23.5m on environment protection between 1998 and 2006. In 2006, it allocated EUR3.5m to environment projects, 40% more than initially planned.  
 
Holcim was the first Romanian company to implement the concept of an environment-friendly ready-mixed concrete plant in 2001 with its plant in Pitesti.  
 
All 15 ready-mixed concrete plants of Holcim Romania are now environment-friendly. 
 
Holcim Romania reported in January a 28% rise in its 2006 turnover to a preliminary 774 million lei ($307 million/231 million euro), driven by the buoyant construction sector.