ACC inaugurates new 6,000tpd clinker line at Ramliya, Egypt
Arabian Cement Company (ACC) inaugurated its new 2Mta greenfield clinker plant in Ramliya, Egypt. ACC is a joint venture between Cementos La Union of Valencia, Spain and local Egyptian partners. The event was attended by the Ambassador of Spain in Egypt, Mr Antonio Lopez, the Consellera Industria de Valencia, Mrs Belen Juste Picon, as well as senior management from CLU and ACC, and delegates from Egypt, Spain and the UK.
The plant represents an investment of US$180m and was built under full turnkey contract by FLSmidth (Denmark). It has a clinker capacity of 6000tpd and will create 300 new jobs. The factory has completed commissioning and is now ready to commence commercial production. Originally set up to export clinker to CLU‚s grinding facilities in Spain, the plant will now serve the local market, following the export ban imposed on March 29th by the Ministry of Trade and Industry on all clinker and cement. The domestic market is growing at an unprecedented rate, expanding by 20 per cent in the first three months alone, with an even higher annual growth rate forecast by year end. The government hopes to contain price growth and guarantee sufficient supply to the rapidly expanding local market, especially during the forthcoming summer months when construction activity will reach its peak.
Nevertheless, ACC has its sights set on the long term. Plans are already in place to expand capacity further. According to Mr Wahid El Ebiary, ACC Board Member and originator of the project, new cement mills and the construction of a second clinker line will be completed over the next two to three years, as well as a dedicated export terminal at the nearby Port of Sokhna. Published under Cement News
