Interfax citing Mr Nikolai Puzenko commercial director for Lafarge's Ukrainian representative office as saying that French group Lafarge could commence construction of its second cement plant in Ukraine in 2010.

He added that investment in the construction of a plant with capacity of up to 1.5 million tonnes of cement could come to EUR 280 million to EUR 300 million. The plant will be constructed 12 to 13 kilometers from Lafarge owned OJSC Nikolayevtsement in the Lviv Region.

Mr Puzenko said construction will take around two years. At present, the company has already completed preparation work and leased 100 hectares in territory. The new enterprises will produce cement utilizing less energy-consuming dry process. The plant will be fueled by both coal and alternative energy sources.

It was earlier reported that Lafarge plans to build a plant form the production of cement by dry process. The plant's capacity was earlier put at 2.3 million tonnes a year.

(Sourced from Interfax)