Steelmaker ArcelorMittal has increased its shareholding in Ecocem France. By the end of May, ArcelorMittal will hold a 49 per cent stake in the cement company, compared to 30 per cent to date.

The joint venture Ecocem France was created in 2007 by ArcelorMittal and the Irish group Ecocem Materials to develop the production of granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), a by-product of steel manufacture by ArcelorMittal in France.

Ecocem France currently operates a 0.7Mta ground slag production site, near the ArcelorMittal plant in Fos-sur-Mer (Bouches-du-Rhône). The plant’s  output is exported to the UK, Italy and Spain.

A second site is expected to open in May 2018 next to the ArcelorMittal plant in Dunkirk (North), bringing the total production capacity of Ecocem France to 1.4Mta. Output from this plant will be destined for construction sites in northern and western France as well as being exported to the UK and Belgium.