Cement shortage delays big Qatar projects

Cement shortage delays big Qatar projects

Doha :

A shortage of cement is hampering Qatar's construction activities and delaying the completion of several major projects, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has said.

The ministry has formed a special panel to study the problem and said steps would be taken to resolve it soon.

The panel, which includes private sector representatives, was set up following a meeting between the ministry and businessmen.

Ministry representatives attributed the shortage to a spurt in demand following a boom in construction.

Delays in the arrival of shipments due to the rainy season are also aggravating the situation, they said.

"The crisis will be solved soon," Shaikh Mohammad Bin Ahmad Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce, told a meeting of representatives of construction, contracting and ready-mix cement companies. The shortage is holding back the completion of major projects across the country, members of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and contractors said.

However, Salem Butti Al Nuaimi, a senior official of Qatar National Cement Company, one of Qatar's two cement producers, said his company would resolve the crisis.

Some businessmen blame Qatar National Cement Company for the shortage.

They want Qatar to import more cement since, they said, Qatar National Cement Company cannot meet market demand.

The shortage has affected at least one construction project at which work has stopped, said Nasser Al Meer, a member of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the owner of a construction company.

Concrete block makers are facing economic losses due to the cement shortage, as they are unable to complete their contracts on time. The owner of one concrete block-making firm said it was receiving just 10 per cent of its cement requirements.

The and its production had fallen from 70,000-80,000 blocks per day to 25,000.

Speaking to reporters, Mohammad Ali Al Sulaiti, chairman of Qatar National Cement Company, earlier said the imminent arrival of three ships carrying 35,000 to 40,000 tonnes of cement would alleviate the shortage.

Qatar National Cement Company produces 5,000 tonnes of cement and imports 2,500 tonnes daily.

"The problem starts whenever there is a delay in imports.

"The current shortage does not exceed 10 per cent of the company's production and we can overcome such a shortage within a few days," he said.

Qatar National Cement Company is in the process of securing additional cement supplies from neighbouring countries, Al Sulaiti said.

New Qatar National Cement Company facilities, capable of producing 5,500 tonnes of cement per day, will start up by October, he said.

This will bring the company's total production capacity to 10,500 tonnes per day.