Mexican cement company Cemex has announced the acquisition of two aggregate quarries in the Madrid region from the German company Heidelberg Materials. This infrastructure will help the company to strengthen its materials supply at a time when major infrastructure projects are expected to start in the Spanish capital.

The transaction also includes a ready-mixed concrete plant in the town of Vicálvaro in the Madrid region, which will be equally important for increasing the supply to customers in the country’s central region. This facility joins the mortar plant in Ciempozuelos, also located in the Madrid region, which joined the Mexican group last May.

Growth in Europe
Central Spain is a key region for the company’s growth, and for its expansion in Europe. Urban sprawl, one of the largest on the continent at present according to the firm’s estimates, as well as large infrastructure and building projects that are already underway or are due to start soon, are the main attraction to boost growth on this side of the Atlantic.

The two new quarries, located in Valdilecha and Perales de Tajuña, have significant limestone reserves. The entire workforce at the quarries has joined Cemex España Operaciones. The transaction also includes the facilities, equipment, machinery, and mining permits, as well as Cemex's collaboration in managing a construction waste treatment plant, which is operated by a company specialised in recycling and preparing waste for reuse.

Madrid Nuevo Norte
The Mexican company, which has received support from Invest in Madrid, justifies the transaction with a list of projects headed by Madrid Nuevo Norte, which it describes as “the largest real estate and urban planning project in Spain and one of the largest in Europe, one that will change the face of this area of the city by renovating Chamartín station and the La Paz hospital, and by constructing several new metro lines, tunnels, bypasses, roads and over 10,500 homes and offices, as well as urban parks and other social infrastructure and services”.

Cemex also wants to participate in other major projects, such as the new City of Justice and the Tres Cantos, Torrejón de Ardoz, Valdebebas, Berrocales, Valdecarros and Campamento Urban Development Action Programmes(PAU), to name but a few.

^{Photo: Cemex}