Argentina's Loma Negra has announced that it will be converting its 400tpd integrated plant in San Juan into a grinding and cement dispatch facility.

"In the plant no more cement will be manufactured, the clinker will be brought from the Frías plant in Catamarca, located 600km away," said Ivan Malla, general secretary of the Argentine Mining Workers Association (AOMA).

Of the 70 plant workers, this decision was expected to impact 40. However, after union negotiations this was reduced to 23, of which four have accepted pre-retirement and a further five will be transferred to the Frías plant in Santiago del Estero, according to Notas.