Thamesport Cement has submitted a full planning application of its proposed site on the Isle of Grain, Kent, UK. Backed by France-based Cem’In’Eu, the company promises to bring “21st century cement manufacturing” to the UK.

Following a presentation of the project to Medway Council last month, Colin Jenkins, managing director of Thamesport Cement, accompanied by fellow directors Gerd Aufdenblatten and Fabien Charbonnel, said: ‘We are very pleased and excited at the prospect of bringing to the UK the proven technology that Cem’In’Eu are utilising in their other projects in France and elsewhere in Europe.’

Cem’In’Eu is creating Europe’s first regional network of modular cement plants and currently have five projects either operational or under development in France and Poland. Each plant represents an investment of around EUR20m and is based on an identical modular concept but with design adaptions to suit local topography and geography. Using horizontal grinding mill technology, the plants are capable of producing up to 250,000tpa of cement.

Representing a significantly-larger investment, the proposed facility at Thamesport will have two mills and be capable of producing up to 485,000tpa. It will occupy a 2ha footprint and create up to 35 full-time jobs. Bulk raw materials such as clinker, gypsum and limestone will be imported by sea with finished bulk or bagged products delivered to the key Greater London and southeast England markets via road transport.

Mr Jenkins continued: ‘The existing London Thamesport facilities provide us with an excellent location to build our cement production facility. With an established deep-water wharf and excellent road access capabilities, it will allow us to provide cementitious materials to the important and growing markets of London and the southeast of England.

‘This represents a major long-term investment in the UK for Thamesport Cement and I am pleased to be helping bring quality investment and employment back to the area. We know that our project will allow Thamesport Cement to manufacture a range of cement products to satisfy existing and projected customer demand in the vitally-important markets of the South East.’

Thamesport Cement are continuing to work with Medway Council and other consultees as its planning application progresses and expects to enter operations in 2020.