Cemex, one of the world’s largest cement and readymix concrete companies, is to begin construction of a new grinding facility for cement and slag in Dubai in order to help meet increased demand in the market.
In a bid to enhance its presence in the Gulf, the company has already set up a regional office in Dubai and has plans to establish operations in each of the GCC countries within the next five years.
The upcoming grinding facility, which involves an investment of $50 million, is part of Cemex’s $500 million worldwide expansion programme for this year. The new plant will increase the firm’s commercial and production capacity in the region to 1.6 million tonnes of cement.
“Cemex has been importing high-quality cement into the UAE primarily to supply its own readymix concrete operations but also to supply discerning customers that insist on Cemex’s products, which are known worldwide for their quality and consistency,” says a spokesman for the company.
The new grinding facility will be built on a 59,000 sq m plot in Dubai and will include buildings for storage of raw materials, silos and other structures for the storage and delivery of cement. The facilities will also house offices, workshops and a laboratory for quality control.
“The project will comply with strict global and local environmental requirements and is expected to be completed and fully operational by mid-2007,” the spokesperson mentions.
Cemex launched operations in the UAE in March last year after acquiring the RMC Group and has since been focusing on supplying readymix concrete and ground slag to the local construction industry.
Already regarded as a key player in the readymix concrete sector of Dubai, Cemex has also started playing an important role in the Abu Dhabi market. “Cemex is also the leading supplier of granulated ground blast furnace slag (GGBS) – an additive used to make high-quality durable concrete – in the UAE,” the spokesperson points out.
Some of the major projects that Cemex has supplied to in the UAE include:
• The $4.1 billion Dubai International Airport expansion. Cemex is currently working on Phase II of expansion and has supplied materials to build the airport’s Central Utility Complex;
• Dubai Mall, which is designed to be the world’s largest shopping centre (9 million sq ft complex) when it is completed in 2008;
• Mall of Emirates, currently the largest shopping mall in the world outside of North America;
In addition, Cemex has supplied its products for the construction of various major interchanges on Sheikh Zayed and Beniyas as well as the R727 Dubai Ring Road (Phase II), for Dubai Municipality; and for Station G and the expansion of stations “E” and “D”, for Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa). It has also contributed to various military works, including the Central Military Command at Defence Roundabout on Sheikh Zayed Road and the Central Military Command Printing Press.
Other key projects include:
• Burj Al Arab (piling, raft and basement);
• Jumeirah Beach Hotel;
• Royal Mirage Hotel (plaster);
• Madinat Jumeirah (plaster).
Cemex is a growing global building solutions company that provides high-quality products and reliable service to customers in more than 50 countries throughout the world. Cemex, which commemorates its 100th anniversary this year, estimates to have earned revenues totalling $15.3 billion last year.
The company has a capacity to annually produce 97 millions tonnes per year of cement, 77 million cu m of readymix, and 195 million tonnes of aggregats.
