Lafarge mulls new cement plant in Souss

Lafarge Ciments is mulling over building a new cement plant in the southern Souss region where the company saw growth opportunities, according to a senior official.

"For now we have enough output capacity to meet demand, mainly in north of Morocco. But we must from now start thinking about a new project to expand," said Pierre Damnon, the MD of Lafarge Ciments – the Moroccan affiliate of French group Lafarge, which has more than 40 per cent market share.

France's Lafarge and SNI – an investment company controlled by Morocco's royal family – each own 50 per cent of Lafarge Maroc, which in turn controls 69 per cent of Lafarge Ciments, part of which is listed on the Casablanca bourse.

Morocco's cement market will pick up this year after a weak first quarter which saw sales falling because of disruptions caused by flooding and bad weather, he added.

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