Holcim will build a new cement plant with an annual capacity of 1.7Mt in Morocco’s principal market of Casablanca. This will enable Holcim to meet over the long term the rapid market growth forecast for cement-intensive infrastructure construction and new housing projects. Scheduled to come on line in 2008, the plant will be located at Settat, 70 km south of Casablanca. Thanks to state-of-the-art technology, Holcim will secure the highest environmental standards and cost leadership in the market. The investment will total approximately Euro 200m.

The Holcim Group has been present in Morocco for just over ten years. The Moroccan construction industry has developed solidly over the past few years and Holcim (Maroc) S.A. today ranks among the country’s leading enterprises. It has an annual cement capacity of 2.6Mt, with production sites at three locations. Cement activities are rounded out by operations in the ready-mix and aggregates segments, while personnel totals 540. Holcim Ltd has a 51 percent holding in the publicly listed Holcim (Maroc) SA.