SigmaRoc set to start exploratory drilling on Guernsey

Company initiating next phase in establishment of new hard rock quarry on Chouet headland

SigmaRoc plc, the buy-and-build construction materials group, have announced that their subsidiary, Ronez Ltd, the Channel Island construction materials producer, has begun the next phase to establish a new quarry site on Chouet headland in Guernsey.

Exploratory drilling, which is scheduled to begin on 6 November 2017, will contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the site’s potential and forms an essential part of the planning application.

The board of SigmaRoc believes that production at Chouet could initially start in 2021 and that the quarry would have a lifespan of at least 40 years, during which time hard rock could be extracted from both freeheld mineral and further mineral held by the States of Guernsey.

Ronez are currently in discussions with the States of Guernsey Development and Planning Authority over drawing up a development framework for the site allowing for the most efficient utilization of the reserves.

SigmaRoc’s chief executive officer, Max Vermorken, said: ‘We are pleased to be initiating this exploratory work at Chouet headland. Quarrying is strategically important to Guernsey and we are convinced that a new quarry would provide decades of sustainability for the local industry.’

Earlier this month, SigmaRoc announced the acquisition of Topcrete Ltd and their wholly owned subsidiary Allen Concrete Ltd for an initial cash consideration of £9 million and a deferred consideration of £3.5 million.

Ronez Ltd are a wholly owned subsidiary of SigmaRoc, who acquired the business from Aggregate Industries for £45 million in January 2017.