Gulf Cement Company is looking to increase its production capacity to 12 000 tpd, as a second production line is due to come online in 2011. GCC plans to increase its capacity in several stages, from 3500 tpd at present, to 5000 tpd in the second quarter of this year, with a subsequent increase to 7000 tpd in order to meet local market demands. At present, Qatar, requires some 15 000 – 17 000 tpd, and GCC is looking to supply just over half of this.
Abdullah bin Nasser Al Misnad, Chairman and Managing Director of Al Khalij Holding Company, of which GCC is a subsidiary, said ‘we are currently producing between 3000 and 4000 tpd of cement because we are in production trial stages. In the next few weeks we will reach the full capacity of 5000 tpd.’
Al Khalij Holding’s board of directors met last Thursday to check on the progress of the Umm Bab cement plant, where capacity is being increased. The board suggested importing clinker to support production at Umm Bab until the expansion project is complete, which should be within six months.