Morocco: Heidelberg Materials has signed a strategic agreement to acquire Votorantim Cimentos' assets in Morocco, including a 63% share in cement and ready-mix concrete producer Asment de Témara and the entire stake in aggregates supplier Grabemaro through its subsidiary Ciments du Maroc. This acquisition positions Ciments du Maroc to expand its operations in Northern Morocco, adding a cement plant with a production capacity of 1.4Mt/yr, two aggregates sites and eight ready-mix concrete plants. The acquisition includes access to an alternative fuels platform enhancing the fuel rate at the newly acquired cement plant to 70% by 2027, reportedly contributing to reduced environmental impact and optimised production-related energy costs. The completion of the transaction awaits regulatory approval from Moroccan competition authorities, and financial details remain undisclosed.
Chair of the managing board of Heidelberg Materials Dominik von Achten said "Our latest investment marks an important step as part of our ongoing portfolio optimisation to strengthen our core markets. Expanding our presence in the attractive Moroccan market while increasing our use of alternative fuels will generate substantial financial synergies and thus help us accelerate our ambitious decarbonisation efforts throughout our sites in the country and grow our local offering of sustainable solutions."
