The Lafarge Group intends to expand in Russia seeing the local market as "very promising."

The Lafarge Group intends to expand in Russia seeing the local market as “very promising.”

Alex de Valuhoff, Lafarge Cement CEO, says the group has two cement plants in Russia, VoskresenskCement in the Moscow region and Uralcement in the Chelyabinsk region, which provide over 2,000 jobs.

A new up-to-date cement facility is planned in the Kaluga region to produce 2 million tones/year and the plant will use renewable power. It is intended CO₂emissions at the plant will be cut by 31% per tonne of cement compared to the existing facilities and power consumption will be reduced by half.

The project is to be partly funded by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) which increased its share in the charter capital of Lafarge in Russia in December 2009.

Lafarge Cement is to use €120 million granted by the bank to upgrade its operating plants to help decrease greenhouse gas emissions. The plants are currently completing installation of new filters to decrease dust emissions to match EU standards.