Cemex is making a major investment in its UK operations with a £16 million project at Dove Holes quarry in Derbyshire, marking the largest capital expenditure project currently being delivered in the EMEA region. This significant global investment reflects Cemex’s long-term confidence in the UK construction sector and its commitment to securing the future of one of the country’s most important limestone reserves.

The investment will fund the construction of a state-of-the-art filtration facility that will transform the way quarry fines are managed at the site. The new facility, being developed and supplied by Diemme Filtration, is scheduled to be operational by August 2027.

During the Aggregate production process, limestone is washed before being processed. The water containing the washed silts is pumped into a lagoon where silt and fine limestone particles settle out before the water is reused. Silt lagoon space is now running critically low and creating additional lagoon space will require sterilisation of significant limestone reserves. The new filtration technology will remove silts from the washed slurry, converting this into clean water to be recirculated in the washing process and solid “cakes”. These can then be safely stacked and stored away from the excavation site and sold as a valuable by-product.

Dove Holes quarry is currently sitting on approximately 200 million tonnes of limestone reserves. By removing the need for additional lagoon space, this investment will unlock access to 125 million tonnes of limestone aggregate, helping secure the long-term future of the quarry.

Diemme Filtration, a global leader in solid-liquid separation technology, will provide advanced filtration and thickening solutions designed to maximise water recovery, improve dewatering efficiency and support sustainable resource management.

Speaking about the project, Lex Russell, MD UK Materials, said “This major investment demonstrates our long-term commitment to Dove Holes and Cemex UK, as well as our confidence in the UK construction industry. It will enable us to operate more efficiently, maximise the quarry’s reserves and ensure Dove Holes remains a vital part of our business for generations to come.”

Once completed, the new facility will not only improve operational efficiency but will also secure a critical source of limestone aggregate for the UK construction industry for decades to come.