Bahrain taking action to ease cement crisis

Bahrain taking action to ease cement crisis
13 June 2008


Bahrain is taking urgent action to break the cement crisis which has crippled the country’s construction industry.

Work on many projects has come to a virtual standstill because of a halt in supplies of cement from Saudi Arabia, which sources say is costing the industry more than BD4m a day.

Crown Prince and Economic Development Board chairman Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa yesterday instructed authorities to open the door for sufficient supplies of cement and construction materials.

He gave his go-ahead to establish new cement factories in non-residential areas, to avert environmental hazards.

Existing cement factories will also be given the green light to expand.

The initiative aims at curbing monopoly on construction materials and give the national economy a competitive edge, said the EDB.

A high-profile delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro will visit cement-producing countries, to ensure supplies for the local market.
Published under Cement News