Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Environment and Water ordered a cement factory in Fujairah to close for one month due to violations of Cabinet Resolution No 24 of 2011 for environmental protection.
The ministry is strictly implementing laws and regulations that promote environmental protection and sustainability, a press release issued by the ministry said on Tuesday.
The ministry’s jurisdiction includes regulating cement factory operations to protect the environment and the safety and health of residents. The ministry regularly conducts inspections in collaboration with local authorities to monitor factory operations.
Ganem Al Shamsi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of External Audit at the ministry, said: “The decision came after our team visited the facility as part of regular inspections to monitor cement factories operating in the country. The inspection is in line with our initiatives to oversee these firms and ensure their strict compliance with the law.”
Al Shamsi revealed that this is the first cement factory to be closed this year. This is the result of the ministry’s intensified efforts to strictly implement laws and regulations to achieve its strategic objective of protecting the environment and promoting sustainability.
The ministry will regularly meet with concerned local authorities to coordinate joint visits to ensure the factories’ compliance with regulations and their commitment to meeting government requirements.
As part of the UAE Vision 2021, the ministry is assessing existing laws to ensure their relevance and efficiency, Al Shamsi added.
As Gulf News reported on September 6, the ministry issued a ministerial decree to regulate the installation, management and operation of quarries and crushers in the country.
It aims to protect the environment and residents living in surrounding areas by working with the competent authorities.
Companies operating crushers, quarries, and related industries have been given 180 days to comply with the provisions and article of the decree. The regulations also apply to cement plants, ceramic and terrazzo tile factories, marble factories and all construction projects involving rock excavations, quarrying and crushing operations.
