Belgium-based Lhoist plans to invest 170 million EUR (210 million USD) in building Asia’s largest lime plant in Malaysia ’s northern state of Perak, according to “The Star”.
The investment is part of the first phase of the company’s business expansion in Malaysia and the Asian region.
The privately-held industrial firm, a leading lime producer with an annual turnover of 2 billion EUR, acquired a limestone quarry near Ipoh , Perak, in 2007 and it started production in 2013.
The company also plans to set up a research and support centre and a regional office in Kuala Lumpur .
Lhoist Sdn Bhd General Manager Michel Bruyere said that besides the financial investment, the company will bring in experienced engineers to develop local human resources.
Lhoist aims to reach a total production of 650,000 tonnes of lime from its quarries in Malaysia by 2016. It will export 80 percent of total output to Southeast Asia and India , with the remainder for local consumption, he said.
Founded 125 years ago, Lhoist operates about 90 plants in over 25 countries and has a workforce of 6,000.-VNA
