Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 14 / trend A. Akhundov /
The largest cement producer in Azerbaijan, Holcim Azerbaijan is preparing to introduce new products to the market, the company General Director Raoul Waldburger told Trend on Friday.
"We are preparing to introduce two new types of cement - Holcim Massive for foundations and Holcim Sprint for concrete products," Waldburger said.
The company represents a wide range of bulk and bag cement products for various purposes.
When the new kiln will run at full capacity, the company will increase the cement production volume by 30 per cent from 1.3 million to 1.7 million tons per year, while clinker production will increase from 0.86 million to 1.24 million tons.
"We are a reliable supplier of cement on the Azerbaijani market," he said. "We plan to maintain this capacity and supply quality products to the domestic market."
He added that the company uses waste limestone from the nearby quarries as raw materials.
"About half of the limestone from limestone cutting activities in Azerbaijan goes to waste limestone" he said. "Holcim Azerbaijan collect and use it as raw material for our cement production. Moreover, the new plant allows us to use waste from oil industry as raw materials - contaminated soil, drill cuttings and so on. Thus, we are making a contribution to improve the environmental situation. All the raw materials for our production are made in Azerbaijan."
The new cement plant of Holcim Azerbaijan which manufactures products using a dry method, was opened in the Garadagh district of Baku on July 10, 2012. Azerbaijani President H.E.Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremony. The foundation of the plant worth 300 million euros was laid in 2009. Around 80 per cent of the production equipment was modernized. Four kilns working with an old wet technology were replaced with one modern dry kiln.
Shareholders of Holcim Azerbaijan are Holcim Ltd. Azerbaijan Investment Company, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as individuals.. Around 500 people are employed at the Holcim (Azerbaijan).
Holcim operates in more than 70 countries and employs more than 80.000 people. It is a global supplier of cement, aggregates (crushed stone, gravel and sand) and ready mix concrete and asphalt. Holcim had been confirmed as a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index since 2003. It is recognized as one of the most sustainable companies worldwide in the construction materials industry. Holcim is also listed in the FTSE4Good sustainability index