Buzzi Unicem is investing US$262m to increase capacity at the Buzzi Unicem USA works at Selma, Mo. A new five stage preheater / precalciner kiln is to replace two existing long dry kilns. The works, which is located on the Mississippi river, will see its cement capacity increase from the current level of 1.3m tonnes to 2.3Mt, once the investment programme is completed in the second half of 2008.
The Selma works will then account for roughly half of Buzzi Unicem USA’s 4.5Mt of cement capacity on the Mississippi and connected waterways from its two plants in Missouri, Selma and Cape Girardeau, and one works in Tennessee, at Chattanooga, and Buzzi Unicem USA’s total capacity will go up to 9.6m tonnes. The increased capacity at Selma should reduce the group’s dependence on cement imports in the United States. Buzzi Unicem USA is 51.5% owned directly by the parent and 48.5% by its subsidiary Dyckerhoff. In addition, Buzzi Unicem directly owns 100% of Alamo Cement in Texas.
