QPMC to inaugurate cement storage silos project in 1st quarter

Qatar Primary Materials Company will inaugurate its cement storage silos project in the first quarter of this year as part of QPMC’s “efforts to ensure sustainable supply” of cement in the country.
QPMC CEO Eisa al-Hammadi said the project is located on Berth 1 of the Port of Mesaieed and comprises two cranes, two conveyor belts, 12 concrete silos with a storage capacity of 5,000 tonnes for each for a total of 60,000 tonnes.
He said cement materials would be transferred from the concrete silos to four iron silos which will discharge the cement inside trucks with an unloading capacity of 250 tonnes per hour for each silo, or a total of 1,000 tonnes per hour, which is enough to fill up 40 trucks with a payload of 25 tonnes each every 60 minutes.
Al-Hammadi said cement ships will be unloaded at a discharge rate of no more than two and a half days with a cargo that weighs 30,000 tonnes, which reduces the waiting time.
“One of the main objectives of concrete silos is to put an end to shortfalls and ensure the provision of cement and other concrete materials in a sustainable manner for current and future projects, as well as supporting the private sector,” al-Hammadi said.
Al-Hammadi also said QPMC’s bulk materials handling system (BMHS) plant was among the company’s achievements in 2016.
“It was a long year of strategic achievements where the conveyor belts project was executed and implemented, which established the foundations for putting cement storage silos into action very soon,” al-Hammadi said.
He said the 4.8km conveyor belts begin where ships dock and from the gabbro berths, extending to reach the storage areas. The belts work at the speed of 3m/s, allowing them to cut the whole distance into the storage yard in just 25 minutes.
Al-Hammadi stressed that the belts directly serve major projects and the infrastructure and construction sectors.
“The conveyor belts have a primary role to play in decreasing the waiting period of ships at the dock and outside the port, in addition to their similar role of increasing the absorptive capacity of gabbro trading berths 1, 2, and 3 at the Port of Mesaieed, and accommodate 30mn tonnes per annum instead of 16.5mn tonnes with an increase of at least 81%,” al-Hammadi added.