Yamama (Named so by Founders after the historical name of Riyadh area) Cement Company is a saudi shareholding company ranks among the biggest cement producers in the country and one of the earliest as well. It was founded in 1961 in Riyadh city (http://www.riyadh2000.org.sa) by H.H. late prince\ Mohammad Bin Saud Al-Kabir with a capital of SR 25 Million, aiming at producing and selling cement to satisfy the country's need of this strategic material and to initiate a heavy industry that utilises local raw materials.
Government support combined with wise management decisions played a great role in encouraging Yamama to expand its factory and add new production lines. The production started in 1966 whith a humble 300 t/d line, The first extension was as early as 1972 when a line of 800 t/d was added to raise the total annual production up to 330 thousand tpa (tons per annum). The big jump came six years later in 1978 when two production lines were added 1500 t/d each, thus raising the total capacity up to 1.23 million tpa of clinker. Having four kilns, so far, was not enough to coup with the enormous increase in demand, therefore a fifth kiln was added in (1982) to make the designed capacity go as high as 1.68 million tpa. In 1985 a fourth extension added a 3000 t/d preheating (precalcining) short kiln, abandoning thus, for good, the older technology of long dry kilns. In fact Yamama's development in designed capacity was accompanied by other developments in manpower, capital, realised profits (Figuer.1) management organization and services which made a giant out of that small company born 40 years ago.