(MENAFN - The Peninsula) Gulf Cement Companys production is expected to reach 12,000 tonnes per day with the launch of a second production line early next year, according to the companys officials.
At this stage the companys production stands at 3,500 tonnes of cement per day which is expected to reach full capacity of 5,000 tonnes per day in the second quarter of this year and to be further increased to 7,000 tonnes of cement per day.
We are currently producing between 3,000 and 4,000 tonnes of cement per day because we are in production trial stages. In the next few weeks we will reach the full capacity of 5,000 tonnes per day, Abdullah bin Nasser Al Misnad, Chairman and Managing Director of Al Khalij Holding Company of which Gulf Cement is a subsidiary, told reporters on Thursday in Umm Bab.
He said at the formal launch of the cement plant in Umm Bab that the companys Board members have decided at their third regular meeting on Thursday to increase the cement plants capacity from 5,000 to 7,000 tonnes per day to meet the market demand.
Al Misnad noted that the countrys demand for cement as of now stands at around 15,000 to 17,000 tons per day and Gulf Cement will be covering 50 to 60 percent of the market.
Alkhalij Holding Board of Directors convened their third regular meeting on Thursday. The Board checked the progress of the cement plant and discussed the increasing of cement production to meet the market demand.
The companys Board of Directors recommended importing clinker to support production capacity during the next phase until the expansion process of the plant is completed in about six months. The company posted net profit of approximately QR11m in the first quarter of 2010 compared to QR5m in the corresponding period last year.
Al Misnad also said that in few weeks the Gulf Cement Company will start producing clinker and will be producing some 1.8 million tonnes of cement per annum to meet the increasing local demand.
By Nasser Al Harthy
