Akmene Cement Plant
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Background
The Akmene plant is the only cement plant in Lithuania. The facility was originally known as the Akmenė Cement and Slate Production "Akmencementas." In 1990, the enterprise became a state-owned company named Akmenės Cementas. By 1997, the company's capital became predominantly privately owned, with the majority held by Lithuanian investors. In 2001, the UK-based RMC Group p.l.c. acquired a 34% stake through its subsidiary, Rugby Holding B.V. This stake was subsequently acquired by the Mexican conglomerate Cemex in 2004.
Between 2006 and 2014, Akmenės Cementas undertook a comprehensive modernization project, replacing outdated equipment with a new, energy-efficient clinker production line utilizing dry-process technology. On June 30, 2021, the German-based SCHWENK Building Materials Group acquired an additional 50.4% of Akmenės Cementas shares, increasing its total ownership to 97%. This acquisition also included a majority stake in the Kalcitas AB quarry and two cement terminals. In August 2024, the company completed a €30 million upgrade to its plant, enabling an increase in alternative fuel usage to 90%. This project received €4.3 million in funding from the Lithuanian Environmental Project Management Agency's Climate Change Programme. Also in 2024, recycling company Ekobāze announced plans to construct a €12 million facility in the Akmenė Free Economic Zone. This plant will process post-consumer plastics into solid recovered fuel (SRF) for use by Akmenės Cementas, promoting waste reduction and sustainable energy use.
