UK: Aventas Group (formerly part of Quinn Group of companies) is to invest Euro16m in its Quinn Cement plant in Cavan.

Aventas said that it has appointed contractors PJ Carey to convert the landmark cement plant, near Ballyconnell, to use solid recovered fuel, primarily cardboard, textiles and plastics. The fuel will replace more expensive South African coal and according to plant manager Barry King will reduce carbon emissions by 20%. 100 construction jobs will be created in the conversion. The investment is part of an overall spend of Euro30m - 50m which Aventas plans to make in upgrading and maintaining the plant over the next five years.

Aventas said confidence in the future of the plant has risen following the performance of the construction industry supplies division of the group. It recently opened a depot in Rochester from where it is hoping to triple its penetration of the British cement market. Aventas Group chief executive Paul O'Brien said the British market currently consumes about 10Mt/yr of cement, with Quinn Cement due to capture about 1% or Euro9.6m of that in 2014. The company hopes to triple its UK turnover in coming years.