Belgim-based lime and limestone giant, Lhoist Group, has invested US$58M in a new refractory dolomite project in Chizhou, on the Yangtze River in southern Anhu province. The project is expected to be among the world's largest refractory dolomite producers on completion in 2006. The Chizhou plant will have an initial production capacity of 55,000/tpa, rising to 100,000/tpa in 2010. The Chizhou operation, which represents Lhoist's first investment in a Chinese production project, will come under Lhoist's refractory dolomite and refractories arm, LWB Refractories. LWB leads world refractory dolomite production with a 260-280/tpa combined capacity in Europe, sourcing dolomite raw materials from Lhoist operations in Belgium and Germany, and a further 150,000/tpa refractory dolomite from its York, PA operation.
