Rahul Preeth
Doha
Qatar National Cement Company (QNCC) is gearing up for a massive expansion into markets beyond Qatar, with its kilns now capable of producing an export quantity of 3 million tonnes of clinker — an essential raw material for producing cement.
After meeting the domestic demand, the company has the capacity to produce an additional 3 million tonnes that can be exported, QNCC Chairman and Managing Director Salem Butti al Naimi told Qatar Tribune on the sidelines of a meeting with its clients at its Um Bab facility on Sunday.
Geographical proximity and logistical advantages make export markets in Asia and Africa look particularly appealing to the company, the chairman said, adding that hectic talks were being carried out with some big players in India.
"India used to take a lot of cement from Pakistan. These days, they are looking for another producer… We could be there. We are talking to them [Indian firms],” Naimi said, noting that an agreement might be signed "in the coming days”.
The doors, he said, were open to Iraq, Yemen and some countries in the GCC as well.
"If Iraq restarts its construction [rebuilding after the war with the Islamic State] tomorrow, we will be there. If Yemen also went back to construction, we could enter the market there as well. Also, there is scope [for expansion] in other GCC states,” the chairman said.
QNCC has recently increased its output capacity with the commissioning of a fifth plant, which has added an additional 5,000 tonnes to its overall clinker production capacity of 11,000 tonnes a day.
The company can now produce 16,000 tonnes of clinker a day, besides churning out 20,000 tonnes of cement every day.
Naimi said the company had a steady base of long-standing customers in Qatar but was keen to build on that, both within the country and outside.
"Any company starting a construction project is a potential client for us and we draw them to us with our products,” he said.
Doha
Qatar National Cement Company (QNCC) is gearing up for a massive expansion into markets beyond Qatar, with its kilns now capable of producing an export quantity of 3 million tonnes of clinker — an essential raw material for producing cement.
After meeting the domestic demand, the company has the capacity to produce an additional 3 million tonnes that can be exported, QNCC Chairman and Managing Director Salem Butti al Naimi told Qatar Tribune on the sidelines of a meeting with its clients at its Um Bab facility on Sunday.
Geographical proximity and logistical advantages make export markets in Asia and Africa look particularly appealing to the company, the chairman said, adding that hectic talks were being carried out with some big players in India.
"India used to take a lot of cement from Pakistan. These days, they are looking for another producer… We could be there. We are talking to them [Indian firms],” Naimi said, noting that an agreement might be signed "in the coming days”.
The doors, he said, were open to Iraq, Yemen and some countries in the GCC as well.
"If Iraq restarts its construction [rebuilding after the war with the Islamic State] tomorrow, we will be there. If Yemen also went back to construction, we could enter the market there as well. Also, there is scope [for expansion] in other GCC states,” the chairman said.
QNCC has recently increased its output capacity with the commissioning of a fifth plant, which has added an additional 5,000 tonnes to its overall clinker production capacity of 11,000 tonnes a day.
The company can now produce 16,000 tonnes of clinker a day, besides churning out 20,000 tonnes of cement every day.
Naimi said the company had a steady base of long-standing customers in Qatar but was keen to build on that, both within the country and outside.
"Any company starting a construction project is a potential client for us and we draw them to us with our products,” he said.