Expansion work is under way at Sharjah Cement Factory, which will boost its clinker production capacity to 1.3 million tonnes per year. The contract was awarded to IHI to install a 3,400 tonnes per day precalciner kiln, raw mill and crushing plant. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2002.

Union Cement Comany (UCC) says it obtained ISO 14001 environment management system certification in April 2000, becoming the first cement manufacturer in the Middle East to achieve it. ''Improvement is a continuous process at Union Cement,'' says a spokesman for the Ras Al Khaimah-based firm.