New Cemex wharf provides closest aggregate production to central London, England

A new 643 Cemex wharf has been officially opened in Dagenham, Southeast England, providing the closest aggregate production north of the river to central London. The processing plant can produce 500,000tonnes/year with capacity for more, most of which will go into concrete for construction in England’s capital city.

Six months has been spent converting the site into a fully operational wharf. The wharf site was previously the site of an asphalt plant, decommissioned in 2009. The site was then used as a depot for limestone brought from quarries in north Wales for the London market.   

"Following the slow-down in construction, the recovery has resulted in severe materials shortages particularly around the London area.  We have similar operations at Northfleet and Angerstein, close to Dartford, but they are both south of the river. It made strategic sense to revitalise the site at Dagenham to service the growing markets in central and north London," comments Rob Doody,  Cemex’s aggregates operations director.

The wharf operation ties up €67.7 million (£48 million) of capital which includes contractor-operated ship, land and processing plant. The marine chartered ship has a 10,500tonne capacity and can discharge at 2,000tonnes/hour; the processing plant can handle 200tonnes/hour.