In a statement, Lhoist North America said the facility, which is to open next year, will be located in the Memphis area. The project is primarily driven by growing demand for Lhoist's high-purity dolomitic lime products in the steel industry, it said.  

"This project aligns with our company's commitment to environmentally sustainable growth," said Ron Thompson, president and chief executive of Lhoist North America.

The new facility will be primarily supplied by its new kiln in Marble Falls, Texas, but with access to three of the major railroads, it can receive shipments from multiple dolomitic production sites across the southern U.S. 

The facility will be designed to meet more than 200,000 tons of annual demand. 

“This project will ensure a reliable supply of lime to our customers by increasing the flexibility of our supply chain and allowing us to store a substantial amount of inventory close to their sites. As a privately held mining company, the long-term orientation of our business, including investment in distribution terminals to service our customers, has always been at our core," said Laura Henderson, director of supply chain and strategy.