Abu Dhabi-based General Holding Company (GHC)is set to build a grassroots cement plant in Fujairah. The move will come as part of the establishment of a new company, Bina, which will incorporate the existing construction assets of the former government-owned General Industries Corporation (GIC - MEED 16:9:05).

'The plant will have capacity of 3 million t/y [tonnes a year] and take about 30 months to complete,' Hussain al-Nowais, GHC board member told MEED on the sidelines of the Second Major Projects in Abu Dhabi conference on 20 November. A consultant on the project is expected to be appointed prior to the company's initial public offering (IPO) in December. HSBCis advising on the flotation (see Banking & Finance).

The plant is the latest in a string of projects aimed at raising capacity in the local cement sector by about 4 million t/y by 2007 from the current 11 million t/y. Star Cement, a subsidiary of Dubai-based ETA-Ascon, is expected to make an award imminently on its proposed greenfield integrated cement plant in Ras al-Khaimah (RAK).

Jebel Ali Cement Factoryis also likely to finalise a location for its new clinker plant, valued at about $200 million, by the end of the year.