Holcim found innocent in Mexico poisoning cases

Water authorities in Mexico have found that a subsidiary of Switzerland’s Holcim cement group had no part in poisoning cases in the city of Apaxco.

A civil movement in the city blockaded the Ecoltec factory earlier this year and the non-profit Pro Salud health organisation had accused the company of laying illegal drainage pipes which carried effluent from Mexico City into the River Salado.

According to the country’s national water commission Conagua, which conducted an investigation into the allegations, there is “no hydraulic infrastructure at Ecoltec’s facilities for discharging residual water into the receiving bodies of national property, including the subsoil”.

“Therefore, the pouring or charging of residual water from Ecoltec’s operations into national property is impossible.” The term “national property” mentioned in a Conagua statement sent to swissinfo.ch refers to the public sewage system of Mexico.

In July, Holcim spokesman Roland Walker categorically denied the allegation against Ecoltec.

Since 2003 Ecoltec in Apaxco has processed batteries, car tyres and industrial waste into fuel to power the local cement factories.