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Arkan opens Dh1.3 billion cement factory in Al Ain

The plant is designed to fulfil growing demand for cement

Al Ain — Abu Dhabi-listed Arkan Building Material Company opened Dh1.3 billion cement factory outside Al Ain on Thursday.

The greenfield plant has capacity to produce four million metric tonnes of clinker and 5.7 million metric tonnes of cement per annum.

The cement plant will source its raw material from its own queries in Al Ain and Oman.

Shaikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, opened the factory in the presence of Hussain Jasim Al Nowais, Chairman of the General Holding Corporation (Senaat), which owns Arkan Building Material Company, Engr. Suhail Mubarak Al Ameri, Chief Executive Officer of Senaat, and other government officials.

Later, Shaikh Hamed was shown around the most modern plant that uses state-of-the-art technology and high grade limestone.

“The cement plant will meet the local requirements as 90 per cent of its output will be consumed domestically and only 10 per cent will be exported to GCC countries,” said Suhail Al Ameri, the chief executive officer of the General Holding Company or Seenat, while talking to Khaleej Times.

The UAE’s cement industries manufacturer 35 million metric tonnes annually against the domestic demand of 10 million metric tonnes.

Commenting on the mega plant, which will boost Abu Dhabi’s industrial might, Shaikh Hamed said the UAE will continue to diversify and expand its industry as part of its policy of economic diversification under the leadership of the President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He said the support lent by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to the economy and economic diversification contributed positively towards pushing the agenda of inclusive development.

Hussain Al Nowais said that the cement is the largest in the country which will add value to the UAE economy.

Speaking on the occasion, Suhail Al Ameri said the factory was designed to fullfil the growing demand for cement in the UAE and the Gulf region where huge infrastructure and real estate projects are under construction.

He added the factory would ensure leadership in production of cement as it will boost output capacity to four million tonnes of clinker per year from 900,000, while annual cement production will go up 5.6 million tonnes from 4.5 million tonnes.

According to him, the factory will generate many job opportunities in the technical and administrative fields for the Emirati citizens.

A company official said the 10,000 metric tonnes of Clinker per day capacity plant was chosen based on its energy consumption as compared to all other designs.

The biggest cement factory was built by China’s Sinoma E&E based on their vast experience of constructing 120 plants around the globe.

Arkan Building Materials Company specialises in manufacturing of building and construction products. Majority of its shares are owned by General Holding Corporation (Senaat), an entity wholly owned by the government while remaining 49 per cent of shares are listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market (ADX).

haseeb@khaleejtimes.com