On February 20, 2008, at an official ceremony at the Ministry of the Environment and Water, Devnya Cement received a complex IPPC permit (integrated pollution prevention and control) in support of its investment project for the reconstruction and modernization of its clinker and cement production installations.

The Italcementi Group project will upgrade the Devnya Cement installations through conversion from a wet to a dry cement and clinker production process. As part of the project, Italcementi will introduce the best available techniques for cement production, improving the industrial and safety standards in the Devnya plant. The initiative confirms the company’s commitment to sustainable development, care for the environment and public relations.

At the end of 2006, at an official meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, Italcementi Group Chief Executive Officer Carlo Pesenti publicly announced the company strategy for future expansion in Bulgaria, through the investment project valued at over 500 million Leva.
On January 17, 2007, at an official ceremony at the Ministry of the Economy, the Minister presented Devnya Cement with a First Class Investor Certificate recognizing the company’s investment commitments for the modernization of Bulgaria’s largest cement plant. The Devnya initiative is one of the largest industrial investments in Bulgaria in the last 20 years.
At the beginning of 2007, Devnya Cement began working with the relevant central and local government bodies to obtain the necessary permits and licenses. Early on, the project received a favorable Environment Impact Assessment decision. At the end of May 2007, the procedure for acquisition of the complex IPPC permit began.

Thanks to the responsiveness and co-operation received by the company from all the central and local authorities involved in the authorization process (the Ministry of the Environment and Water, the Environment Agency, the District Administration of the city of Varna, Devnya Municipality, etc.), the project obtained full approval, putting the IPPC licensing process on the fast track.
The Devnya project is further evidence of the Bulgarian government’s level of commitment toward promotion of and active participation in investment opportunities.

In Spain as well, after an administrative process begun in June 2005 by Fym, the Malaga plant has obtained the IPPC permit.