Under the GCC contract, the Thyssen Krupp India/Polysius team will supply core equipment for the new 7,000-tonne-a-day (t/d) clinker line including a raw mill, silo and kiln line. Engineering and steel works - but not steel procurement - will be carried out by Thyssen Krupp India. Civil works will be undertaken by a local contractor which has yet to be appointed by GCC. The client plans to complete the project within 22 months. India's Ercom Engineersis the consultant on the project. GCC's existing facility has capacity to produce a total of 1.3 million t/y of clinker.

Thyssen Krupp India/Polysius is one of at least four groups pursuing the UCC expansion scheme, which calls for the addition of 6,000 t/d of clinker capacity. UCC, which produces 1.2 million t/y of clinker, had earlier this year approached several international companies to carry out the project on a turnkey basis. However, it is now following the GCC approach, having invited Indian and Chinese companies to provide equipment and engineering services in partnership with international partners. Germany's KHD Humboldt Wedagtogether with a Chinese company is also pursuing the project. The consultant is the technical centre of Germany's Heidelberg Cement.

Plans are also progressing to close the Al-Ain Cement Companyplant in Abu Dhabi emirate for environmental reasons and build a grassroots facility in Fujairah. Abu Dhabi Investment Company (ADIC), which will finance the estimated $350 million project, has approached international contractors to bid by late October for the turnkey contract, which calls for the installation of a 7,500-10,000-t/d clinker line. ADIC has still to appoint a project management consultant to oversee the scheme.