Unicem Aquitaine chairman Patrice Gazzarin is angered by the creation of a new under construction aggregate import terminal in Grattequina, south west France. The project requires a €13.7 million investment, primarily financed by local authorities. Gazzarin is quoted in Le Moniteur des Travaux Publics et du Bâtiment saying that the project, designed to receive imports from Norway and Scotland, does not make sense from an environmental or economic point of view. He states that these imports require nine time
July 4, 2014
Read time: 2 mins
1850 Unicem Aquitaine chairman Patrice Gazzarin is angered by the creation of a new under construction aggregate import terminal in Grattequina, south west France. The project requires a €13.7 million investment, primarily financed by local authorities. Gazzarin is quoted in Le Moniteur des Travaux Publics et du Bâtiment saying that the project, designed to receive imports from Norway and Scotland, does not make sense from an environmental or economic point of view. He states that these imports require nine times the fossil fuel consumption that local quarries use, noting that local aggregate production in Aquitaine represents 3,500 direct jobs. He states that the financial support from local authorities indicates awareness of the difficulties local firms have in accessing local resources and claims that these authorities have failed to plan for a sustainable supply of aggregates in the area. Finally, Gazzarin says there is a deficit in the Gironde region as its resources are being used up and not replaced. The replacement rate stands at around 2.5 million tonnes/year, compared to production of 6 million tonnes/year and consumption of 9 million tonnes/year.
