Item 2. Properties
Item 2. Properties
As of February 15, 2024, we had a total of 3,390 operating locations:
Americas Materials Solutions Americas Building Solutions Europe Materials Solutions Europe Building
Solutions
United States 1,542 303 — 10
Europe — 4 1,201 192
Rest of World 79 21 9 29
Total 1,621 328 1,210 231
Our building materials operating locations include product production facilities, mobile plants and retail facilities. Some of these operating locations are located on the same sites as our mining properties described below under the heading “Mineral Reserves and Resources: Background”. Significant building materials operating locations for the Company’s subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023, are the cement facilities in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia and the Philippines. These facilities include plant and equipment such as kilns, crushers, calciners, coolers, and silos used to process limestone and other raw materials into cement as well as equipment used to extract and transport limestone from CRH quarries. The clinker (the key intermediate product in the manufacture of cement) capacity for our significant building material locations is set out in the table below:
Country Number of Plants Average Clinker Capacity
(tons per hour) Property Utilization
Americas Materials Solutions
South United States 3 352 75%
West United States 6 780 83%
Great Lakes United States, Canada 3 437 79%
Northeast United States — — —
Europe Materials Solutions
Western Europe United Kingdom, Ireland, France 8 1,067 64%
Central & Eastern Europe Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia 6 1,379 76%
Philippines Philippines 5 714 69%
Our building solutions businesses have many types of manufacturing facilities including paver, masonry, precast, pipe, dry-mix and lawn and garden plants. These facilities include plant and equipment such as automated presses, batching systems, packaging equipment, kilns, coolers, and silos which are used to turn raw materials into finished goods for our cementitious products as well as equipment such as presses, extruders and molds which are used in the fencing, railing, plastic pipe, trench and metals and enclosure businesses. Two of our recent building solutions acquisitions, National Pipe & Plastics Inc. and Barrette Outdoor Living Inc. (Barrette), have provided CRH with strategically important manufacturing facilities serving the high-growth United States residential fencing and railing and PVC pipe infrastructure markets.
Other Properties
In addition to the properties described above and those disclosed under the heading “Mineral Reserves and Resources: Background”, CRH’s principal corporate office, which it owns, is located in Dublin, Ireland. The Company also leases administrative offices for each of its two Divisions, including a CRH Americas divisional headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, United States and a CRH Europe divisional headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
CRH also owns and leases, directly or indirectly through third-parties, heavy mobile equipment, trucks and vehicles for production and transportation purposes.
Condition
CRH believes that all the facilities are in good condition, adequate for their purpose and suitably utilized according to the individual nature and requirements of the relevant operations. CRH has a continuing program of improvements and replacements of properties when considered appropriate to meet the needs of the individual operations.
CRH Form 10-K 18
Mineral Reserves And Resources
Background
The Company’s mineral reserves (reserves) and mineral resources (resources) for the production of primary building materials (which encompasses aggregates (stone, sand and gravel), cement and lime, asphalt, readymixed concrete and concrete products) fall into a variety of categories spanning a wide number of rock types and geological classifications. These reserves and resources are found within our extensive network of quarry locations in attractive local markets globally. This disclosure of the Company’s mining properties has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (Subpart 1300). The Company has 1,235 properties with 226,153 acres of owned and 97,046 acres of leased land, respectively, as disclosed in the table on page 22 the locations of which are presented by geographic location in the maps on page 23.
None of CRH’s mineral-bearing properties are individually material to the Company as of December 31, 2023. A summary disclosure of CRH’s mining operations is provided on pages 20 to 23.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s reserves and resources estimations of 25,417 million tons and 10,761 million tons, respectively, as disclosed on pages 20 to 21, are calculated in accordance with Subpart 1300. The Company’s reserves and resources disclosures may not be comparable to similar disclosures disclosed in accordance with the requirements of other countries and should be read in conjunction with the disclosures that follow on pages 20 to 23.
CRH operates predominantly production stage properties, with a limited number of development and exploration stage properties, as such terms are defined in Subpart 1300. Predominantly, CRH’s production stage properties provide raw materials for on-site modern cement and aggregates producing facilities. Almost exclusively, CRH utilizes surface mining and, with a very limited number of exceptions, CRH and its subsidiaries are the only operators of the properties.
Reserves
Reserves are defined in Subpart 1300 as “an estimate of tonnage and grade or quality of indicated and measured mineral resources that, in the opinion of the qualified person, can be the basis of an economically viable project. More specifically, it is the economically mineable part of a measured or indicated mineral resource, which includes diluting materials and allowances for losses that may occur when the material is mined or extracted”. Reserves are classified into two categories, probable and proven reserves, in order of increasing geological confidence.
The Company’s estimate of 25,417 million tons of reserves, as disclosed on page 20 analyzed by rock type (Hard rock, Sand & Gravel and Other), are of recoverable stone, sand, and gravel of suitable quality for economic extraction, based on drilling and studies by the Company’s geologists and engineers. These estimates also consider reasonable economic and operating constraints as to maximum depth of overburden and stone excavation and are subject to permitting or other restrictions.
The disclosed reserves and resources estimations which include diluting materials and allowances for losses that may occur when the mineral is mined, extracted or processed have been estimated by qualified persons, as such term is defined within Subpart 1300.
Not all minerals that may be on CRH’s mineral-bearing properties have been assessed and such properties may be assessed for mineral reserves or resources in future years, as required by operational needs.
CRH’s properties are subject to a wide variety of permitting procedures and conditions, which vary between jurisdictions. Many of CRH’s properties require separate permits from multiple authorities, including but not limited to environmental, mining, regional and national administrative authorities. The periods of validity and the conditions of these permits may be different.
Resources
A mineral resource is defined in Subpart 1300 as “a concentration or occurrence of material of economic interest in or on the Earth’s crust in such form, grade or quality, and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. A mineral resource is a reasonable estimate of mineralization, taking into account relevant factors such as cut-off grade, likely mining dimensions, location or continuity, that, with the assumed and justifiable technical and economic conditions, is likely to, in whole or in part, become economically extractable”. Resources are classified into three categories, inferred, indicated or measured resources, in order of increasing geological confidence. Indicated or measured resources can be converted to reserves by the application of certain modifying factors which include, but are not limited to, consideration of mining, processing, metallurgical, infrastructure, economic, marketing, legal, environmental compliance, plans, negotiations, or agreements with local individuals or groups, and governmental factors. There is no certainty that any of the resources disclosed on page 21 will be converted into reserves. Resources have not been fully assessed using modifying factors, however, an initial assessment has been completed in accordance with Subpart 1300.
Internal Controls
CRH has established appropriate governance processes to support the publication of our 2023 reserves and resources disclosures. Reserve and resource estimates are subject to annual review by each of the relevant operating companies across the Company in conjunction with the relevant qualified persons. CRH has established and maintains a number of internal controls to address the risks inherent in the mineral reserves and resources reporting process. These internal controls have been embedded into the local control environments and operate across the business, including controls at an operating company, divisional and Company level.
As CRH’s reserves and resources are predominantly in production stage properties, features of the internal controls relating to quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) include:
• Databases and data repositories for exploration and/or production data that contain accurate and precise data from which reserves and resources can be evaluated, and operational plans can be developed;
• Verification sampling and testing of known mineralization. This is generally required to establish compliance with regulations on product qualities. Verification testing confirms geological maps prepared during earlier exploration programs; and
• In the case of cement raw materials, facility laboratories participate in an externally managed annual review process with ISO 17025 accredited independent laboratories.
CRH Form 10-K 19
When exploration programs are conducted, QA/QC measures include:
• Ensuring that surface or drill sampling results in the highest quality sample possible. This would include down-hole surveying of drill holes as necessary;
• Obtaining pictures of drill sample (e.g. core) for future reference;
• Geological core logging, where the geological description of each sample interval is recorded prior to laboratory analysis;
• Ensuring the integrity of samples from point of origin to analytical laboratory; and
• Using nationally or regionally accredited laboratories for all analyses and tests for exploration programs in properties containing aggregates.
In addition, to provide further assurance over the Company’s mineral reserves and resources reporting process, the Company’s Internal Audit function completed a limited scope review across a sample of material reporting entities on the operation of these internal controls as of December 31, 2023.
The table below presents, by segment and geographic location, the tons of proven and probable aggregates, cement and lime mineral reserves at December 31, 2023, and the related percentages by rock type.
Reserves
Proven Probable Total Reserves (i) (ii)
Country Tons (iii) Grade: % by rock type Tons (iii) Grade: % by rock type Tons (iii) Grade: % by rock type
Hard Rock Sand & Gravel Other Hard Rock Sand & Gravel Other Hard Rock Sand & Gravel Other
Aggregates
Americas Materials Solutions United States 7,770 78% 14% 8% 9,573 86% 8% 6% 17,343 82% 11% 7%
Canada 565 75% 25% — 167 89% 11% — 732 78% 22% —
Europe Materials Solutions Western Europe (UK, IE, FR, ES, DK, FI) (iv) 1,979 82% 18% — 1,214 92% 8% — 3,193 86% 14% —
Central & Eastern Europe (PL, RO, SK, CH, HU) (iv) 223 82% 18% — 257 51% 49% — 480 66% 34% —
Philippines 54 100% — — 5 100% — — 59 100% — —
Subtotal 10,591 79% 16% 5% 11,216 86% 9% 5% 21,807 82% 12% 6%
Cement
Americas Materials Solutions United States 568 100% — — 88 100% — — 656 100% — —
Canada 228 100% — — 24 100% — — 252 100% — —
Europe Materials Solutions Western Europe (UK, IE, FR, ES) (iv) 457 97% — 3% 177 96% — 4% 634 96% — 4%
Central & Eastern Europe (DE, PL, RO, RS, SK, CH, UA) (iv) 597 96% 2% 2% 562 89% 3% 8% 1,159 92% 2% 6%
Philippines 323 99% — 1% 214 97% — 3% 537 98% — 2%
Subtotal 2,173 98% — 2% 1,065 93% 1% 6% 3,238 96% 1% 3%
Lime (v)
Europe Materials Solutions Western Europe (UK, IE) (iv) 24 100% — — 21 100% — — 45 100% — —
Central & Eastern Europe (DE, PL, CZ) (iv) 270 100% — — 57 100% — — 327 100% — —
Subtotal 294 100% — — 78 100% — — 372 100% — —
Total 13,058 82% 13% 5% 12,359 87% 8% 5% 25,417 84% 11% 5%
(i) CRH has no individually material mineral-bearing properties requiring individual property disclosure under Subpart 1300.
(ii) CRH’s point of reference for the estimation of the Company’s mineral reserves is “in-situ” reserves.
(iii) All reserves quantities are quoted in millions of short tons.
(iv) The country and their respective codes are Czech Republic: CZ, Denmark: DK, Finland: FI, France: FR, Germany: DE, Hungary: HU, Ireland: IE, Poland: PL, Romania: RO, Serbia: RS, Slovakia: SK, Spain: ES, Switzerland: CH, Ukraine: UA, United Kingdom: UK.
(v) At December 31, 2023, Europe Materials Solutions’ Lime operations have been classified as held for sale in the Consolidated Financial Statements (see Note 3 “Assets held for sale and discontinued operations” on page 66).
CRH’s mineral reserves and resources are used predominantly for the production and sale of aggregates, cement and lime. The average sales price for the period January 1, 2023, to October 31, 2023, for aggregates and cement was $16.9 and $125.3 per ton, respectively, for our Americas Materials Solutions businesses and $10.9 and $116.0 per ton, respectively, for our Europe Materials Solutions businesses. The average sales price for lime within our Europe Materials businesses over this time period was $174.7 per ton. These prices, which are used for estimation of both mineral reserves and resources, are impacted by product mix, geographic location and foreign currency.
CRH Form 10-K 20
The table below presents, by segment and geographic location, the tons of measured, indicated, and inferred aggregates, cement and lime resources as of December 31, 2023, and the related percentage of these resources by rock type. CRH’s mineral resources in the table below are disclosed exclusive of mineral reserves.
Resources
Measured Indicated Total Measured & Indicated Inferred Total Resources
(i) (ii)
Country Tons (iii) Grade: % by rock type Tons (iii) Grade: % by rock type Tons (iii) Grade: % by rock type Tons (iii) Grade: % by rock type
Hard Rock Sand & Gravel Other Hard Rock Sand & Gravel Other Hard Rock Sand & Gravel Other Hard Rock Sand & Gravel Other
Aggregates
Americas Materials Solutions United States 784 92% 5% 3% 1,568 84% 15% 1% 2,352 87% 11% 2% 4,049 76% 22% 2% 6,401
Canada 504 93% 7% — 30 89% 11% — 534 93% 7% — 145 100% — — 679
Europe Materials Solutions Western Europe (UK, IE, FR, ES, DK, FI) (iv) 364 19% 81% — 571 82% 17% 1% 935 58% 42% — 333 92% 8% — 1,268
Central & Eastern Europe (PL, RO, SK, CH, HU) (iv) 252 77% 23% — 69 78% 22% — 321 77% 23% — 46 68% 32% — 367
Philippines 28 100% — — 2 100% — — 30 100% — — — — — — 30
Subtotal 1,932 77% 22% 1% 2,240 83% 16% 1% 4,172 80% 19% 1% 4,573 78% 20% 2% 8,745
Cement
Americas Materials Solutions United States 15 100% — — 32 100% — — 47 100% — — 143 100% — — 190
Canada 60 91% — 9% 1 100% — — 61 91% — 9% 2 100% — — 63
Europe Materials Solutions Western Europe (UK, IE, FR, ES) (iv) 144 100% — — 70 91% — 9% 214 97% — 3% 80 96% 3% 1% 294
Central & Eastern Europe (DE, PL, RO, RS, SK, CH, UA) (iv) 309 98% — 2% 117 82% — 18% 426 93% — 7% 115 100% — — 541
Subtotal 528 98% — 2% 220 88% — 12% 748 95% — 5% 340 99% 1% — 1,088
Lime (v)
Europe Materials Solutions Western Europe (UK, IE) (iv) 7 100% — — — — — — 7 100% — — 19 100% — — 26
Central & Eastern Europe (DE, PL, CZ) (iv) 541 100% — — 228 100% — — 769 100% — — 133 100% — — 902
Subtotal 548 100% — — 228 100% — — 776 100% — — 152 100% — — 928
Total 3,008 85% 14% 1% 2,688 85% 13% 2% 5,696 85% 13% 2% 5,065 80% 18% 2% 10,761
(i) CRH has no individually material mineral-bearing properties requiring individual property disclosure under Subpart 1300.
(ii) CRH’s point of reference for the estimation of the Company’s mineral resources is “in-situ” resources.
(iii) All resources quantities are quoted in millions of short tons.
(iv) The country and their respective codes are Czech Republic: CZ, Denmark: DK, Finland: FI, France: FR, Germany: DE, Hungary: HU, Ireland: IE, Poland: PL, Romania: RO, Serbia: RS, Slovakia: SK, Spain: ES, Switzerland: CH, Ukraine: UA, United Kingdom: UK.
(v) At December 31, 2023, Europe Materials Solutions’ Lime operations have been classified as held for sale in the Consolidated Financial Statements (see Note 3 “Assets held for sale and discontinued operations” on page 66).
CRH Form 10-K 21
The table below outlines the number of facilities by segment and geographic location along with the annualized extraction (in millions of tons) for each of the three years ending December 31, 2023.
Country No. of Quarries /pits Surface acreage (acres) (i) Annualized extraction
(millions of tons) Years to Depletion
(ii)
Owned Leased 2021 2022 2023
Aggregates
Americas Materials Solutions United States 686 132,342 63,667 195.3 203.2 211.6 85
Canada 36 14,870 1,717 19.2 20.5 20.3 37
Europe Materials Solutions Western Europe (UK, IE, FR, ES, DK, FI) (iii) 398 39,381 24,224 87.8 85.8 79.6 38
Central & Eastern Europe (PL, RO, SK, CH, HU) (iii) 40 2,768 1,235 11.4 11.3 10.9 43
Philippines 1 – 440 – – – –
Subtotal 1,161 189,361 91,283 313.7 320.8 322.4
Cement
Americas Materials Solutions United States 9 18,612 802 10.8 10.1 11.6 61
Canada 3 2,024 17 2.5 2.2 3.4 94
Europe Materials Solutions Western Europe (UK, IE, FR, ES) (iii) 18 7,939 568 15.6 14.2 15.2 42
Central & Eastern Europe (DE, PL, RO, RS, SK, CH, UA) (iii) 27 2,882 3,794 22.6 16.5 17.1 62
Philippines 5 2,469 526 9.3 7.2 7.7 66
Subtotal 62 33,926 5,707 60.8 50.2 55.0
Lime (iv)
Europe Materials Solutions Western Europe (UK, IE) (iii) 2 662 7 1.8 1.5 1.6 27
Central & Eastern Europe (DE, PL, CZ) (iii) 10 2,204 49 8.2 8.2 5.8 45
Subtotal 12 2,866 56 10.0 9.7 7.4
Total 1,235 226,153 97,046 384.5 380.7 384.8
(i) The disclosures in the table above include the surface area of infrastructure, process plants, waste piles, water storage, water treatment plants and boundary
areas of CRH’s mineral-bearing properties. Remote properties such as offices, distribution facilities and readymixed concrete plants are not included.
(ii) Years to depletion is based on the average of the three years’ 2021 to 2023 annualized extraction.
(iii) The country and their respective codes are Czech Republic: CZ, Denmark: DK, Finland: FI, France: FR, Germany: DE, Hungary: HU, Ireland: IE, Poland: PL, Romania: RO, Serbia: RS, Slovakia: SK, Spain: ES, Switzerland: CH, Ukraine: UA, United Kingdom: UK.
(iv) At December 31, 2023, Europe Materials Solutions’ Lime operations have been classified as held for sale in the Consolidated Financial Statements (see Note 3 “Assets held for sale and discontinued operations” on page 66).
CRH Form 10-K 22
CRH Mineral Locations
l Represents the location of CRH’s mineral-bearing properties
CRH Form 10-K 23