Tarmac and Lafarge take joint stake in Harlow Asphalt

TARMAC and Lafarge have each increased their respective shareholdings in Harlow Asphalt Ltd (HAL) – a joint-venture asphalt production business based in Harlow, Essex – from 33% to 50%.

HAL was originally set up as a manufacturing joint venture between Tarmac, Lafarge Aggregates Ltd and Foster Yeoman Ltd (who were acquired by Aggregate Industries in 2006), with each company holding an equal share in the business. Tarmac and Lafarge have now bought out the 33% share in the company held by Foster Yeoman to form a 50–50 joint venture.

The Harlow plant produces around 120,000 tonnes of asphalt a year and, under the terms of the new business agreement, HAL will supply asphalt to Aggregate Industries. The existing nine members of staff at HAL have all transferred into Tarmac’s employment, as Tarmac have assumed responsibility for managing the plant as part of the joint-venture arrangements.