UCC inks deal with Chinese firm for new clinker kiln

The deal was signed in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr AlQasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah at a function held at the Ruler's Court here.

The contract, pegged at over Dhs 500 million, was signed by Sheikh Saqr bin Khalid AlQasimi, Chairman of UCC and Mr Meng Qinglin, Vice President of CBMEC.

The agreement will see the setting up of a kiln, with a capacity of more than 10,000 tonne/day along with a completely covered limestone
and silica storage facility and two clinker silos. The new kiln will be the largest kiln in the UAE and one of the biggest in the world.
The completion of the project would take the production capacity of UCC to more than 4.5 million tonnes of cement per annum. The new
project is part of the company's efforts for capacity expansion to meet the surging demands of UAE's booming construction industry.

UCC officials said that the new kiln is expected to be commissioned by September, 2006. The kiln supplier, CBMEC is part of the Chinese Sinoma Group (Beijing), which has proven expertise in erecting most modern and large sized equipment.

The UCC was founded in 1972 as a joint venture between the Governments of RAK and Abu Dhabi and is currently operating a factory with a
capacity of 1.3 million tonnes per year. The UCC has also been awarded the ISO 9000 and ENV 14000 certifications.

Sheikh Omar bin Saqr AlQasimi, Chairman of H.H. Ruler's Private Affairs Department and top officials of the UCC were present at the
function.