Gypsum industry news

Iran: Ammar Bashare, the director of the Middle East trade development section of Saint-Gobain, has expressed his company's desire to invest in the gypsum plaster industry in Semnan province. He made the comments in a meeting with Ali Asghar Joma'ei, the head of the province's Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture, as reported by the Islamic Republic News Agency.

Bashare said that Saint-Gobain is ready to invest in the local plaster industry and he hoped that his company could have more cooperation with local Iranian companies when the economic sanctions are lifted.

Joma'ei said that around 40 plaster producer companies are active in Semnan province and that foreign investors should bring modern technology into Iran. He also noted the readiness of a number of investors from Turkey and Germany in the industry. He added that the province is ready for 100% foreign investment or joint venture partnerships.

Semnan produces 40,000t/day of plaster. It exports plaster to Iraq, Turkmenistan and India.

Oman: USG-Zawawi Group and Bank Sohar have signed a US$45m deal to set up and run a gypsum quarry and gypsum wallboard plant in the Salalah Free Zone in Oman. The plant will have a production capacity of 8MM²/yr in its first phase, with a capacity of 16MM²/yr planned in accordance with future demand.

Zawawi Minerals LLC is an Oman-based company belonging to the Qais Zawawi Group. Zawawi Minerals is engaged in exploring and trading high-quality industrial minerals and metal ores, like limestone, gypsum, dolomite and chrome ore. USG's partnership with Zawawi has established two joint venture companies: Zawawi Gypsum LLC and USG-Zawawi Drywall LLC SFZ. The first joint venture develops infrastructure and operates a gypsum quarry, while the second joint venture will build and operate the new gypsum board plant in the Salalah Free Zone.