Mexican cement maker Cruz Azul and Polysius, a unit of German heavy industry giant ThyssenKrupp, started the construction of a cement plant in Palmar de Bravo, eastern Mexico, on a 575 hectares area, almost half of which is located in the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan biosphere reserve, it was reported on November 15, 2005. 
 
Cruz Azul has asked authorisation for an environmental impact studies for 195.6 hectares of the area, located outside the protected zone, according to Jose Antonio Diaz Garcia, a delegate of the Ministry of Environment. In the area there is a cement deposit covering 44.3 hectares, which the company plans to develop in the forthcoming ten years, Garcia added. The authorisation of the Environment Ministry includes exchange of 44.3 hectares of mineral deposits, located in the area, Garcia added. The Ministry has authorised the construction of two plants, one for cement and another one for lime. The construction of the Cruz Azul plant in Palmar de Bravo, is expected to cost $300m and to have a production capacity of 3000tpd of cement.