On the heels of its recent announcement of planned expansion at the Marble Falls, Texas, dolomitic quicklime facility, Lhoist North America has received an additional permit approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for construction of a new energy-efficient lime kiln at its New Braunfels, Texas, facility. The regulatory approval paves the way for Lhoist to begin construction on the significant expansion at the facility.
Primarily driven by continuing demand for Lhoist’s high purity, high calcium lime products by the steel and construction industries, the new vertical kiln is expected to be operational in 2021. “We are proud that this investment at New Braunfels aligns with our company’s commitment to environmentally sustainable growth,” said Ron Thompson, president and CEO of Lhoist North America.
While uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic has led many companies to delay capital spending, Lhoist is forging ahead with enhanced safety protocols to protect employees, while meeting projected market needs.
“Despite the current COVID-19 impacts on the economy, Lhoist maintains a sense of optimism, working closely with customers, pursuing a data-driven capital-investment strategy, investing to create jobs and meet critical supply chain demands which support future infrastructure growth in North America,” said Valentine Berghmans, vice president, Texas Region. “As a privately held mining company, we are dedicated to strong environmental stewardship and committed to the shared success within the communities we work in, and for the customers we serve. These operating principles and the long-term orientation of our business has always been at our core.”
Lhoist expects to increase its local workforce as a result of the expansion.