Hi °C | Lo °C A Co Tyrone cement plant has invested £5m in new equipment and an apprenticeship scheme.
Lafarge, with 68,000 staff in 64 countries, has a base in Cookstown which was visited by Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster.
During her tour she met employees and saw a refurbished kiln electrostatic precipitator which will improve overall emissions performance. She was also told about the Cement Kiln Dust (CKD) project which has reduced some 8,000 tonnes of waste for landfill to almost zero.
Further plans for Cookstown Works were also showcased, including a future upgrade of a central control room and the apprenticeship scheme, which saw two new apprentices join the works team in 2012 with a further two planned for 2013.
The minister said that the investment demonstrates its confidence in its workforce. "This is a difficult time for the construction industry and it is therefore particularly pleasing to see that the company is investing in its future by upgrading its current facilities and creating opportunities for apprenticeships," she said.
Lafarge industrial director Rajeev Ramankutty added: "We were delighted that the minister was able to visit Cookstown Works as it is an integral part of our cement network."
