Lafarge Canada announced that it will shut its plant in east Kamloops for the foreseeable future. A downturn in demand in Alberta and western Canada and a result of plunging oil prices has made the 0.2Mta works unnecessary.
The shutdown is due to be completed by the end of the year and will leave just operational cement plants in British Colombia, a Lafarge plant in Richmond and Lehigh Hanson’s in Delta.
Despite the plant closing, it will not be dismantled. Discussions continue on whether the site will remain an operational distribution centre. Plant Manager, Eric Isenor, has said he is confident Lafarge can continue a reduced operation in Kamloops as a distribution terminal for cement manufactured at the company’s Exshaw plant.
