UAE cement production gets major boost
H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, inaugurated the new capacity expansion projects implemented by two main cement companies in Ras Al Khaimah, providing a major boost to the cement production capacity of UAE.
The capacity expansion projects which were inaugurated yesterday saw the Union Cement Company (UCC) commissioning a 10,000 tpd clinker kiln, trebling its annual capacity from 1.2 million tonnes to around 4.2 million tonnes per annum while Gulf Cement Company (GCC) added a second production line which has increased its clinker production capacity from 1.3 million tonnes to 3.8 million tonnes per annum.
Sheikh Saud accompanied by top company officials and dignitaries toured the newly set up facilities of both companies situated at Khor Khuwair.
The capacity addition exercise has helped Ras Al Khaimah, which is the major cement production base in the country, to boost its cement production capacity by around 60 per cent to reach a total of over 9Mta.
Commenting on the expansion projects, Sheikh Omar bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK Ruler’s Private Affairs Department and Chairman of the Gulf Cement Company said, ’The RAK- based cement plants decided to go for major capacity additions as there is a huge demand for cement in the country and the region.
Ahmed Abdullah Amash, Managing Director of Gulf Cement Company, said that the new 7500 tonnes of clinker per day production line at GCC was set up at a cost of AED 550 million. He said that to rein in the energy cost, which is the major factor in cement production, the company has installed a system that has the capability of converting from one fuel type to another such as gas, coal, and heavy oil fuel. The company now has an installed annual production capacity of 2.7 million tonnes of cement per year and a clinker production capacity of 3.8 million tonnes per year.
He said that GCC has installed a pneumatic loading system to load bulk cement to the receiving ship at a rate of 550 tonnes per hour and provision for direct importing and exporting by the setting up of a Ship Unloading Station with a capacity of 4000 tonnes per day, which is the first of its kind in the UAE. GCC has also spend more than AED 100 million for environmental protection projects such as installation of bag filters, automatic spray system for raw materials, building of a jumbo dome, extending green cover area and covering all raw material yards. The company has been awarded ISO 14001 in 2002 for its environment protection standards.
Published under Cement News
