Irish CRH holds talks on investing in limestone plant ZPW Trzuskawica

Irish construction materials maker CRH is holding talks on becoming a strategic investor in limestone exploration and processing plant ZPW Trzuskawica. "The negotiations have just begun and all the details are being discussed with the Polish Treasury Ministry," said Eamon Gerathy, president of Holding Cement Polski, the parent company of CRH. ZPW Trzuskawica employs over 1,300 people and annually mines and processes about 3 million tons of limestone. Last year it recorded a net profit of zl.5 million on revenues of around zl.140 million. Although the plant is profitable, it needs huge investment outlays estimated at zl.200 million over several years. CRH is another investor with whom the Treasury is holding negotiations, after Carmeus of Belgium failed to clinch the privatization deal within the exclusive negotiation period it had been granted. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p.22) A.Z.