Quatar“s ASAS, a newly founded promoter of small and medium industrial ventures with a capital of QAR 44.75 million, is setting up the Zujaj Company to process glass for use in the construction indus…
Quatar“s ASAS, a newly founded promoter of small and medium industrial ventures with a capital of QAR 44.75 million, is setting up the Zujaj Company to process glass for use in the construction industry. The Zujaj project, with an initial production capacity of 600,000 sq m of various types of glass from 3mm to 19mm thick, is estimated to cost QAR 30 million and expected to start production by the 3Q 2010. The project will be the first in Qatar to manufacture laminated glass. “It will take about 10 months to complete and production will start in August 2010,” said Rafat A al-Suwaimel, industrial investment manager of ASAS in the presence of chairman Mohamed Saleh al-Kuwari. Seeking to corner 7%-10% of market share in Qatar, Mr. al-Suwaimel said that initial 600,000 sq m total capacity will be split between laminated glass (200,000 sq m), tempered glass (200,000 sq m), glass for double-glazing (100,000 sq m) and other glasses including coloured (100,000 sq m). The initial production capacity could be doubled in the long term, Mr. al-Suwaimel said. ASAS has entrusted Osool Albina with the construction of the plant, Austria“s Lisec will be the technology provider and Finland“s Tamglass will build the furnace. Flat glass, the basic raw material, will be imported from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Mr. al-Suwaimel said, adding that the project would be fully owned by ASAS. “The objective (of establishing the glass project) is to keep pace with the construction boom in Qatar and to meet the growing demand for glass products, especially for towers, villas, buildings, offices and interior and exterior decorations,” Mr. al-Kuwari said.