Oman Cement seeks to expand capacity

Cement maker says this is to ensure it will be able to meet surging demand in the country.[$]

{reg}[PAID={"id":"1,2,3,4,5","title":"The content you tried to access is only available to paid subscribers.","link":"1"}]Oman Cement is now looking at expanding its cement grinding capacity to ensure it will be able to serve the requirements of the growing demand for cement in Oman.

The Oman Observer reported that the company has floated a tender for the selection of a consultant to study the best techno-commercial options for enhancing its cement grinding capacity.

Oman Cement needs to supply the nation's continuing infrastructure modernization.

Based on the findings of the study, a tender will be floated during the next quarter for a turnkey contract for the implementation of the expansion project, Dr Abdullah Abbas Ahmed, Chairman, stated in the Board of DirectorsÔÇÖ Report issued here yesterday.

The expansion is the latest in a series of upgrades undertaken by Oman Cement in recent years.

Earlier this year, the company commissioned the second phase of the expansion of its third clinker production line, boosting clinker production capacity by 4,000 tonnes per day.

Following the commercial launch of the new kiln, which produced 191,840 metric tonnes (MT) of clinker during the first half of this year, the company has ceased imports of clinker.

Contracts have also been signed for the upgrade of the pollution control system of Line-1, as well as the capacity enhancement of Kiln-1. The total investment in these upgrades is RO 14.27 million.

Meanwhile, Oman Cement registered a profit after tax of RO 7.330 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, against earnings of RO 18.285 million for the corresponding period of 2010, which also included RO 7.338 million in government reimbursements related to previous years.

Cement sales climbed to 944,566 MT during the first half of this year, against sales of 919,314 MT during the same period last yea, the report said.