Cemex Forges Ahead with Quarrying Plans in Tulum Amidst Rising Demand

TULUM, Mexico – Cement giant Cemex has embarked on the journey to secure permits for establishing its own quarrying zone in Tulum, a project with the potential to necessitate an investment of three million Mexican pesos. This ambitious initiative aims to meet the burgeoning demand for construction materials in Quintana Roo.

Cemex, one of Mexico’s leading cement companies, has submitted an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat). The purpose is to obtain the necessary permits for the establishment of a quarrying zone in Tulum, akin to what Calica previously operated in Solidaridad.

This project, contingent on federal approval, could potentially translate into an investment of approximately three million pesos. Its focal point is the utilization of natural resources in an area spanning approximately six hectares situated in the community of Francisco Uh May, at the western exit of the municipality of Tulum, connecting with locales in the neighboring state of Yucatán.

Cemex’s proposal stems from the escalating demand for stone materials and aggregates in the State of Quintana Roo. This demand surge finds its roots in the burgeoning construction industry and the rapid expansion of Tulum municipality. The company envisions the extraction, exploitation, and utilization of subsoil resources, particularly stone materials, as a raw materials for cement production.

Currently, Cemex stands as the primary concrete supplier for the monumental federal project, the Tren Maya, in this region of Quintana Roo. The cement company’s presence in Tulum is expected to exert an even more substantial impact on the local real estate development, given Mexico’s ongoing initiatives, including the construction of the Tren Maya railway project and the International Airport in the same vicinity.

The permitting process is still in its nascent stages and has been officially presented to Semarnat. In accordance with environmental law regulations, it is estimated that a decision regarding project approval or rejection will be reached in approximately six months.

It is imperative to highlight that Cemex, like other private entities in the region, previously relied heavily on stone material extraction conducted by Calica, located south of Playa del Carmen. Currently, an international legal dispute surrounds this extraction activity in that area.