Project located within Arkan Industrial Park in Al Ain to produce more than 1000 tonnes of lime per day

To produce high-quality quick lime and hydrated lime using 100 per cent indigenous raw materials and environmentally friendly technology

Production scheduled to begin in 2012

Jeddah, December 11, 2010: Arkan Building Material Company, a leading provider of integrated building products and construction materials in the UAE, is setting up a first-of-its-kind lime plant in the region with a capacity of more than 1000 tonnes per day, the company announced today. The plant will be located within Arkan Industrial Park in Al Ain.

The plant will produce high-quality quick lime and hydrated lime using 100 per cent indigenous raw materials and will primarily cater to the growing demand for industrial lime for construction and chemicals industries in the UAE and wider region. Underpinning Arkan's commitment to the environment, technology and equipment used in the manufacturing process will include the latest innovations in environmentally friendly technologies.

"Through our upcoming lime plant, Arkan is pioneering a new manufacturing approach not yet seen in the UAE or the wider region," said Suhail Mubarak Al Ameri, Chairman, Arkan. "As an essential chemical, lime - both burnt and hydrated - is used extensively across industries, including in steel, environmental effluents, agro-food, paper and construction. Considering the long-term plan for industrial development in the UAE, the demand for lime is only likely to grow further into the future.

"We have the capability to produce high-quality lime and in an environmentally friendly manner. With a capacity of nearly 1000 tonnes, products manufactured at our new lime facility will not only be distributed locally, but also exported to other countries in the wider region," said Adellatif Al Sfaxi, Chief Executive Officer, Arkan.

In line with its ongoing commitment to providing employment and training opportunities for local communities, Arkan will seek to staff the new plant with professionals based in the emirate.

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About Arkan:
Arkan Building Materials Co. PJSC (ADX: ARKAN), is a public joint stock company specialising in manufacturing of building and construction products in the UAE.  Established in 2005, Arkan is 51 per cent owned by General Holding Corporation, an entity wholly owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi to promote sustainable industrial activity in Abu Dhabi, with the remaining 49 per cent of shares listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market (ADX).

Arkan's vision is to build a large integrated building products business that serves the local and regional construction industries. Arkan's portfolio companies include Emirates Cement Factory, one of the UAE's leading cement manufacturers, and Emirates Blocks Factories, producer of high quality concrete blocks with locations in Al Mafraq and Al Ain. The company is currently constructing Al Ain Cement Factory, which once ready will be one of the largest in the UAE with a capacity of 3.1 million tons of clinker per year and 4.5 million tons of cement. The company is also developing Arkan Dry Mortar, a high-capacity dry mortar plant located in Al Mafraq, which will produce a range of dry mix products.  Additionally, Arkan actively partakes in building materials investments across the UAE, with a focus on growth opportunities in Abu Dhabi. 

For further information, please contact:
Nitin Nambiar / Nicholas Nesson
ASDA'A Burson Marsteller
Tel: +971 2 6334133
Email: n.nambiar@asdaa.com / n.nesson@asdaa.com

© Press Release 2010