Libyan Cement Company
Encyclopedia
The Libyan Cement Company (LCC) has three cement
-producing factories producing 2.8 million t/yr and a fourth plant producing cement packaging. The entire production is consumed by the local market, including 2,500 tons of cement a day used in the manufacture of pipeline for the Great Manmade River
Project (GMMR).
was 200,000 t/yr. In 1974, a new production line was added with a capacity of 400,000 t/yr. A third production line was built in 1977 with a 400,000 ton capacity, which brought production to 1 million t/yr of ordinary Portland cement. However, the first factory stopped production due to maintenance problems. As of 2007, the Benghazi plant produces 800,000 t/yr. The Hawari plant, which was established in 1964 to produce 1,000,000 t/yr. In 1987, adjustments were made to the Hawari plant production lines to produce sulphate-resistant cement, which is suitable for construction of the GMMR. The El-Fatayah factory was established in 1982 with two production lines having a 1,000,000 t/yr capacity of ordinary Portland cement. This factory is located 350 km east of Benghazi, near Derna. In 2001, the Libyan Government proposed a number of state company projects for which joint ventures would be considered. These included an expansion of Libyan Cement’s El-Fatayah cement plant, costing $166 million. LCC also has a factory that produces the cement packaging, which was established in 1975; as it stands today, the factory produces 200,000 bags per day.
exceeding LCC’s capacity. Demand for cement is very high; for building and construction, like the GMMR, which consumed an estimated 8,000,000 tones of the sulphate-resistant cement. Currently, a major problem for the company is ageing production lines needing renovation, replacement and maintenance. As it stands, LCC is producing 50% of capacity. There is the possibility of exporting cement at the clinker
stage, which was done in the past with a few neighboring countries.
, especially since many European countries are increasingly dismantling cement factories due to environmental concerns. LCC could also export cement to other Africa
n countries. However, the main problem with exporting cement to the rest of the continent is the high costs along the Sahara
trade route.
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
-producing factories producing 2.8 million t/yr and a fourth plant producing cement packaging. The entire production is consumed by the local market, including 2,500 tons of cement a day used in the manufacture of pipeline for the Great Manmade River
Great Manmade River
The Great Man-Made River is a network of pipes that supplies water from the Sahara Desert in Libya, from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System fossil aquifer. It is the world's largest irrigation project....
Project (GMMR).
Background
The Libyan Cement Company started production in 1972 with one factory. The production capacity for ordinary Portland cementPortland cement
Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world because it is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco and most non-specialty grout...
was 200,000 t/yr. In 1974, a new production line was added with a capacity of 400,000 t/yr. A third production line was built in 1977 with a 400,000 ton capacity, which brought production to 1 million t/yr of ordinary Portland cement. However, the first factory stopped production due to maintenance problems. As of 2007, the Benghazi plant produces 800,000 t/yr. The Hawari plant, which was established in 1964 to produce 1,000,000 t/yr. In 1987, adjustments were made to the Hawari plant production lines to produce sulphate-resistant cement, which is suitable for construction of the GMMR. The El-Fatayah factory was established in 1982 with two production lines having a 1,000,000 t/yr capacity of ordinary Portland cement. This factory is located 350 km east of Benghazi, near Derna. In 2001, the Libyan Government proposed a number of state company projects for which joint ventures would be considered. These included an expansion of Libyan Cement’s El-Fatayah cement plant, costing $166 million. LCC also has a factory that produces the cement packaging, which was established in 1975; as it stands today, the factory produces 200,000 bags per day.
Domestic consumption and limitations
All of LCC’s cement production is domestically consumed, with market demandDemand
- Economics :*Demand , the desire to own something and the ability to pay for it*Demand curve, a graphic representation of a demand schedule*Demand deposit, the money in checking accounts...
exceeding LCC’s capacity. Demand for cement is very high; for building and construction, like the GMMR, which consumed an estimated 8,000,000 tones of the sulphate-resistant cement. Currently, a major problem for the company is ageing production lines needing renovation, replacement and maintenance. As it stands, LCC is producing 50% of capacity. There is the possibility of exporting cement at the clinker
Clinker (cement)
thumb|200px|right|Typical clinker nodulesthumb|200px|right|Hot clinkerIn the manufacture of Portland cement, clinker is lumps or nodules, usually 3-25 mm in diameter, produced by sintering limestone and alumino-silicate during the cement kiln stage.-Uses:...
stage, which was done in the past with a few neighboring countries.
Future plans
LCC plans to increase existing production capacity through cooperation with foreign partners. The company’s long-term goals include exporting cement to EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, especially since many European countries are increasingly dismantling cement factories due to environmental concerns. LCC could also export cement to other Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n countries. However, the main problem with exporting cement to the rest of the continent is the high costs along the Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
trade route.