The Ministry of Environment and Water has quashed rumours of dust emissions from the Gulf Cement Company in Ras Al Khaimah. The rumours circulated on social media over the weekend along with pictures of the cement plant releasing heavy fumes.
The ministry’s inspection team closely monitored the emissions, which turned out to be steam caused by the suspension of work at the plant’s vertical mill.
Saif Al Shara, Assistant Undersecretary for the External Monitoring Sector at the Ministry, told Al Ittihad, the Arabic language sister newspaper of The National, that "the suspension caused water to come out of the smokestacks".
Upon coming into contact with the external atmosphere, the water condenses to form vaporous water emissions, a fact unknown to members of the public who think that these emissions were caused by dust.
Such cases occur due to periodic maintenance and are closely monitored by the ministry. They do not cause any hazard to the environment or to people.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
