Belgian-based silica sand giant, SCR Sibelco SA, looks set to take a stranglehold on the UK glass sand market with the purchase of Fife Silica Sands Ltd (FSS). Prior to July, when Sibelco acquired Hepworth Minerals & Chemicals Ltd (HMC), the Belgian company had no silica sand operations in the UK. Fife's parent, Anglo Pacific Group PLC, has signed a contract with Sibelco for the sale of the entire share capital of FSS and Fife Resources Ltd (a company which owns certain mineral resources adjacent to the FSS quarry) for a combined price of £4m cash. Around £3.2m from the proceeds will be used to pay-off Anglo Pacific's debts and the remainder will be used to fund development elsewhere in the Anglo Pacific Group. Anglo Pacific is a mineral and project development company which derives the majority of its profit from coal royalties.
