Al Khalij Cement Company has added a second production line to increase its cement production capacity by more than in 50%.
The new line has raised the cement production capacity from 9,500 tonnes a day to 15,500 tonne and also doubled the clinker production capacity from 6,000 tonnes a day to 12,000 tonnes a day.
“We can say that we are now the largest producer of ordinary Portland cement in Qatar,” stated Faisal bin Abdullah al-Mana, MD of Al Khalij Cement Company.
The cement company, which is a part of Qatari Investors Group, has started initial production and will ramp up to full capacity within few weeks.
The current demand for cement in Qatar is said to be in the range of 20,000-22,000 tonnes a day.
Al-Mana was also asked if Qatar will need to import cement in view of $150bn spend envisaged as part of 2022 FIFA World Cup and Qatar National Vision 2030.
He added: “If there will be any need, the imports will neither be for long time nor in big quantities.”
In a recent report on the Qatari cement sector, Dubai-based financial services firm Arqaam Capital forecast that the country’s production capacity and demand would likely reach equilibrium by 2018.
Al Khalij’s establishment of a second production line was first announced in 2013, when the cost of the facility and plant was estimated at $220m.
At the time Denmark’’s FLSmidth secured the $95.9m order for the new plant, which replicates the existing facility in terms of the machinery – simplifying the maintenance and sourcing of spare parts.
The FLSmidth order covers all main equipment for the production line: conveyor transport systems, mills, complete pyro line, electrical and automation systems as well as filters.
