Grupo UNACEM and Grupo Calidra begin construction of a lime plant with an initial capacity of 200,000 tons per year and an investment of US$70 million.
The new company, CALCEM, aims to become a relevant player in the national lime market.
This initiative brings together two century-old companies: Mexico’s Grupo Calidra, contributing its deep expertise in the lime business and strong commitment to innovation, and Grupo UNACEM, with its vision for growth and sustainability.
With more than a century of experience in their respective sectors, Grupo UNACEM and the Mexican company Grupo Calidra—both leading industrial players in Latin America—have established CALCEM S.A., a company dedicated to the production and sale of lime through the construction of a modern lime plant in the town of Condorcocha, in the province of Tarma. For Grupo UNACEM, the initial project, with a capacity of 200,000 tons per year and an investment of US$70 million, represents a strategic diversification decision that allows the Group to expand its portfolio into a high-value business for key sectors such as mining and construction.
“CALCEM is further evidence of our long-term growth vision. The start of operations of this new business unit, projected for June 2027, reflects our firm commitment to Peru’s industrial development. Together with our experienced partner Calidra, we have been thorough in developing the project’s engineering to bring cutting-edge technology and thus ensure high-quality production and the sustainability of operations from day one,” said Eng. Ricardo Rizo Patrón, Chairman of the Board of Grupo UNACEM.
The CALCEM lime plant will feature advanced technology with a strong focus on sustainability. One of the most notable innovations is the kiln, designed with the capability to incorporate CO₂ capture systems in the future, in line with Grupo UNACEM’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This technology, characteristic of Calidra’s operations in the region, combines energy efficiency with rigorous emissions control, ensuring a positive environmental impact.
“We are pleased to work as a team with Grupo UNACEM on this joint investment in central Peru, which represents an important step in strengthening our presence in the country with a second lime plant. Supported by more than 115 years of history and operations in seven Latin American countries, we bring our experience and capabilities to offer lime solutions, ready-mix products, and carbonates to the Peruvian market,” said Alfredo Riefkohl, Chairman of the Board of Grupo Calidra.
The new company aims to become a relevant and reliable player in the national lime market, consolidating its industrial leadership. Strategically, the plant will be located adjacent to the cement plant in Condorcocha, which has its own renewable hydroelectric power supply and strategic proximity to highways and railways serving mining operations in central Peru—ensuring a reliable, efficient, and high-quality supply.
“CALCEM is a clear bet on the future of Peruvian industry and a demonstration of how our expansion strategy consistently considers long-term environmental and social impact, in line with our purpose of growing together to build a sustainable world,” concluded the Chairman of the Board of Grupo UNACEM.