French group builds cement plant in northern Morocco

The French Lafarge group will build a cement plant in Morocco's northern region, the Paris-based group announced on Wednesday.

Construction works of the plant, destined to meet the increasing demand in the region, will start at the end of 1999 at the latest, head of Lafarge Middle-East and North Africa investments, Jacques Lefevre, told MAP bureau in Paris.

Morocco consumed 3 million tons of cement in 1998, 45 percent of which was supplied by Lafarge. This consumption increases at an annual average of 4 to 5 per cent.

The French group said its turnover jumped by 53 percent in 1998, to stand at 64 billion FF.