Orascom Construction Industries has established its first manufacturing presence in Europe by acquiring a controlling interest in Cementos La Parrilla.  An indirect 51 per cent stake in the company has cost the Egyptian-based group €20.7m. Cementos La Parrilla operates a grinding station with an annual capacity of 0.6Mt at an inland location near Valladolid, some 170km to the north-west of Madrid. The nearest ports, Santander and Gijón, are both some 240km away on the Bay of Biscay. Orascom aims to supply Cementos La Parrilla not only with clinker but also cement from its North African integrated cement works in Algeria and Egypt.  The acquisition forms part of Orascom Construction Industries’ aim to strengthen its position in and around the Mediterranean basin and to develop in Africa and in Asia.