Arabian Yemen Cement plant to start in August

Arabian Yemen Cement, a $260 million (Dh954m) cement plant, will start production from August, reducing the country's dependence on imported cement from the Gulf and other Asian countries.

A senior official of the new cement factory in Yemen told Emirates Business recently that the new plant would have a daily production capacity of almost 4,200 tonnes.

Maqar Ahmed Salim, Marketing and Sales Manager of Arabian Yemen Cement, said: "Work on the new plant started in 2006. Almost 98 per cent of the job is complete. The operations will start from August and the plant will go a long way in solving the cement shortage in Yemen."

The project, funded by the Bugshan Group, involves the construction and operation of a greenfield, integrated cement plant with a cement production capacity of 1.54 million tonnes per annum in the eastern part of Yemen. The Saudi Bugshan Group is one of the largest conglomerates in Saudi Arabia, with operations in several countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Yemen.

The factory covers 22 square kilometres, and will produce Portland cement, anti-salts and sulfate cement, based on global specifications. "We will use locally available limestone, clay and gypsum to produce cement," said Salim.

"Currently, Yemen is importing cement from countries in the GCC such as Oman, and Pakistan in South Asia. At present, there are about four plants and we will have the largest production capacity. However, more facilities would ease the pressure on local demand. Most of our production will be currently used for internal consumption. If there is a need, we could look at exports as well," he said.

The factory is the first of its kind being built in Yemen with maximum environmental safeguards, said Salim.

"More than 20 per cent of our cost was spent on environmental safeguard. The plant is being built in such a way that it is 100 per cent covered and no dust will contaminate the surrounding atmosphere. We are the only plant in Yemen with such a facility," he added.

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