SigmaRoc's wholly-owned Belgian subsidiary CDH (Carrières du Hainaut) has signed an agreement with the Walloon government which will see it co-fund around €700,000 of an estimated €3 million of infrastructure works required as part of the company's blue stone quarry extension project at Soignies.
Due to begin later this year, the infrastructure works will see the displacement of two sections of public road currently separating 116 hectares of CDH’s 351-hectares of permitted land and minerals from its main site.
Once these works end, CDH will install a new crushing and screening plant, allowing the company to move forward with the extraction of construction aggregates and high-grade limestone across the extension area.
Commenting on the agreement, Minister Philippe Henry, vice-president of the Walloon Government and Minister for Climate, Energy and Mobility in charge of infrastructure, said: “The blue stone quarrying sector is emblematic of Wallonia. It works with a natural material of high quality; employs many men and women who extract and valorize this jewel of nature; and exports and takes abroad an image of excellence of our region.
“Support for the extension project will perpetuate an activity with good future prospects and will help to maintain the work of this natural and environmentally friendly material on Walloon territory.”
Max Vermorken, chief executive officer of SigmaRoc, an AIM-listed buy-and-build construction materials group, said: “This is an essential step for the future of CDH. The extension aims to secure access to our, thus far unexploited, blue stone reserves, a necessary condition for CDH to continue their activity for several generations. We would like to thank the Walloon region for its support, which enables us to guarantee the continuity of the business.”
