History

The first cement plant to be built from scratch in Portugal was the "Tejo" plant, later known as Cimpor Alhandra. This plant, which has been operational for more than a century, is located in the village of Alhandra, on the right bank of the river Tejo.
 

The Alhandra Manufacturing Plant dates back to 1890, having been granted a patent for the manufacture of artificial Portland cement as of the charter of the 24th of April 1894, producing 6,000 tonnes of cement per year in a Hoffmann horizontal kiln.

On the 26th of March 1976, public company CIMPOR - CIMENTOS DE PORTUGAL, E.P. was formally established from the nationalisation of seven Portuguese cement plants, having encompassed three cement plants - Alhandra, Loulé and Souselas - from the offset, as well as the Cabo Mondego Hydraulic Lime Plant, Maceira-Liz and Pataias Manufacturing Plants.

In the twenty years that followed, Cimpor grew within Portugal and abroad, its operations expanding to thirteen countries: Portugal, Spain, Angola, Tunisia, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, Cape Verde, Mozambique, South Africa, China, India, and Peru.

In 2005, CIMPOR acquired 100% of the share capital of the company Nordicave Trading Industrial, Lda, which, at the time, owned 86.65% of Cimentos de Cabo Verde, S.A. (CCV).

The 24th of January 2006 was a milestone in CIMPOR's history in terms of its environmental impact. This was the day on which the Souselas manufacturing plant was registered in the EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme), therefore completing the registration of the company's three Portuguese cement plants within the scheme.

In 2012, CIMPOR was bought out by Brazilian group Camargo Corrêa. As part of the further growth and expansion plan, the OYAK Group formally acquired all assets belonging to CIMPOR's Business Divisions in Portugal and Cape Verde in January 2019. With this acquisition, CIMPOR became part of a group affirming itself as a significant global player in the cement market, with a turnover in excess of 13,6 billion euros, employing approximately 37,000 employees in over 140 companies in 24 countries and 6 continents.

The OYAK Group is currently a benchmark in the development of innovative solutions for the use of cement, guided by criteria of efficiency, creativity and profitability as well as by a commitment to acting sustainably and responsibly towards the environment and local communities.

Thanks to this acquisition, the OYAK Group's cement division is diversifying and expanding its operations by strengthening its commercial presence in terms of production and distribution throughout Europe. This new phase will also allow CIMPOR to seek further expansion opportunities and invest in potential new markets worldwide, with Portugal as its starting point.

CIMENTAÇOR

Cimentaçor was founded on the 26th of November 1984 with the aim of guaranteeing an efficient, consistent supply of materials to all islands in the Archipelago. The partners who joined forces to found the business were Entreposto Industrial das Ilhas (Cimpor), the Regional Government of the Azores, and Secil. Following several changes made to the company's corporate structure, Cimpor became its sole shareholder in 2007 - circumstances that are still true to this day.
 

As soon as the company was established, studies were initiated with the aim of finding the best solutions, specifically regarding the location of new units, seeking to maximise the use of natural resources and the cement best suited to the region. As a result, the decision was made to build two new manufacturing plants, which became operational in 1989. In June, the Murtas Grinding Mill was inaugurated in São Miguel, and in November came the turn of the Praia da Vitória Port on Terceira Island.

Having been present in the Azorean market for over three decades, during which improvements have been implemented across production and distribution processes, and a particular focus has been placed on operational safety, both of direct and indirect workers, as well as environmental issues, Cimentaçor continues to serve the Azorean population to the greatest extent possible, effectively responding to market needs thanks to their tailored solutions.

TIMELINE

• 1894 - Production begins at the Alhandra Plant
• 1976 - Founding of CIMPOR - CIMENTOS DE PORTUGAL, E.P.
• 1982 - Construction of the Maia Depot.
• 1983 - Initiation of the process of adaptation to coal, replacing oil fuel.
• 1984 - The 26th of November 1984 marks the signing public deed of incorporation of Cimentaçor. Entreposto Industrial das Ilhas (Cimpor) holds 60%, Secil 20% and the Regional Government of the Azores the remaining 20% of the share capital.
• 1985 - Transformation of the last production line from wet to dry.
• 1989 - A year in which two new units become operational. In June, the Murtas Grinding Mill was inaugurated in São Miguel, and in November came the turn of the Praia da Vitória Terminal on Terceira Island.
• 1991 - The company is incorporated as a public limited company, changing its name to CIMPOR - CIMENTOS DE PORTUGAL, S.A.
• The restructuring of the national cement sector, which took place in 1990, imposed by the reprivatisation policy applied to nationalised operations, leading to the founding of Cimentos Maceira e Pataias (CMP), which was later sold. As a result, the Maceira and Pataias plants ceased to be part of the Cimpor Group.
• 1994 - The privatisation process begins. In the first phase, about 20% of the capital is sold, leading to the Company being owned by about 14,000 shareholders.
• 1996 - The second phase of privatisation takes place in October 1996 with the sale of a further 45% of the company's share capital.
• 1997 - Having had its products certified previously, Cimpor-Indústria successfully has its factories ISO certified in 1997.
• 1998 - The third privatisation phase takes place with the sale of around 25% of the company's share capital, leading to Cimpor becoming 90% privatised, owned by about half a million shareholders. The Portuguese State now holds 10% of the capital. The "mature" market in Portugal registers one of the highest rates of cement consumption per capita in the world (984 kilograms in 1998)
• 2001 - Fourth and last phase of the privatisation process - The Portuguese State sells its entire shareholding in CIMPOR (10.05%) to Teixeira Duarte, S.A.
• 2005 - CIMPOR acquires 100% of the share capital of company Nordicave Trading Industrial, Lda, which, at the time, owned 86.65% of Cimentos de Cabo Verde, S.A. (CCV).
• 2006 - The 24th of January 2006 is a milestone in CIMPOR's history in terms of its environmental impact. This is the day on which the Souselas manufacturing plant is registered in the EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme), therefore completing the registration of the company's three Portuguese cement plants within the scheme. 
• 2012 - InterCement's takeover bid for Cimpor is registered in June 2012.
• 2018 - On the 26th of October 2018, the OYAK Group signs an agreement with InterCement, seeking to purchase the assets and respective operations belonging to CIMPOR's Portugal and Cape Verde Business Division. In early December, OYAK notifies the Portuguese Competition Authority (PCA), hoping for clearance, which is also required from Brussels.
• 2019 - OYAK's acquisition of Cimpor approved by the European Commission on the 10th of January 2019.
• 2020  - Cimpor begins operations in the Ivory Coast.