Demonstrating Responsibility with Speed, Setting Benchmarks with Quality——The Construction of DCC Line II Project
On June 30, 2025, the rotary kiln of DCC Line II 6,000-ton-per-day clinker cement production line at Delta Cement Plant in Sulaymaniya Province, Iraq, was successfully ignited. As the first clinker cement production line project that Sinoma (Suzhou) has undertaken in Iraq after a ten-year gap, the project marks a significant milestone.
Sprinting from the Start: High-Quality Early Commissioning
and Feeding of the Cement Grinding System
Since the official start of construction on February 8, 2024, to meet the owner's requirement of "priority feeding for the cement grinding system", DCC Line II Project Department has adopted an enterprising attitude of "starting work upon arrival and sprinting from the start." They have risen to challenges, raced against time, and taken the lead in initiating the pile foundation construction of the cement line sub-project.
During the construction period, it coincided with the local hot season. To ensure the smooth progress of subsequent large-scale construction work, DCC Line II Project Department scientifically planned the construction organization. After efficiently completing the pile foundation and base construction of the four-connected cement silos, they adopted multiple measures such as shading the raw materials, adding ice to the concrete mixing, and cooling the slipform platform with ice water. Faced with complex challenges in the construction, the management team of DCC Line II Project Department and the management team of Delta Cement Company have stood side by side. Through regular consultations and information sharing, they have achieved optimal allocation of resources, demonstrating the team spirit of efficient collaboration, thus effectively ensuring the safety and quality of continuous slip form work, and ultimately completing the first two-connected silo wall construction with high quality, laying a solid foundation for subsequent construction.
With the successful completion of the structural construction of the cement packaging system, cement mill system, cement proportion station, etc., as well as the formwork construction of the four-connected silos, the project entered the stage of mechanical and electrical installation. Facing the practical difficulties of tight schedule and large hoisting work amount, DCC Line II project department increased the input of construction personnel, scientifically organized and dispatched, and finally achieved the trial operation and feeding of the cement system on December 24, 2024. This injected confidence into the subsequent construction of the clinker system and also provided strong support for the owner's cement sales that year.
The "Wisdom" of Overcoming Difficulties in the Construction of Clinker Systems
While the cement system was being advanced in full swing, DCC Line II project department was simultaneously advancing the construction of the clinker system. At that time, the Middle East region where the project was located was in a period of intense heat, with temperatures reaching as high as 47℃. With the completion of the pile foundation construction at the kiln inlet and the homogenization silo, key structures were gradually unfolded. Facing the technical difficulties of complex pouring processes and high temperature control requirements for large-volume concrete, the project adopted measures such as layered pouring, electronic temperature measurement, and laying ice-water circulation steel pipes inside the body to precisely monitor and maintain the concrete throughout the process, effectively preventing temperature cracks and providing a solid foundation for subsequent structural construction.
The construction of the homogenization silo wall adopted the double-silo wall slipform process. Based on the successful experience of the cement silo, the project department's civil engineering department further optimized the plan. During the construction period, the temperature dropped sharply. The project department promptly took insulation measures, including installing sliding formwork heaters and covering with cotton quilts, ensuring the smooth completion of the sliding formwork construction and meeting the expected structural quality standards.
The construction of the high frame foundation at the kiln inlet is also one of the key and difficult points. DCC Line II project department, taking into account the characteristics of dense steel bar binding and high requirements for formwork support, carried out a comprehensive joint inspection and support system calculation and acceptance in advance to ensure the safety and reliability of the concrete pouring process. With the completion of the final concrete surface finishing, the foundation at the kiln inlet successfully rose above the ground, creating favorable conditions for the subsequent installation of the steel structure. Based on the concrete frame, a seven-story steel structure was ready for installation. The steel structure measures 18.5m*28.5m*109.2m (h), with a total weight of 1,532 tons. After the project department formulated a special construction plan and safety plan, the first steel column was precisely hoisted and stably completed on October 16th,2024.
The project department meticulously organized and arranged the construction tasks throughout the entire process of steel structure installation, and carefully checked the construction progress every day to ensure that the safety of high-altitude operations was strictly controlled and the connections of joints were precisely in place. With the topping out of the last layer of steel structure, the kiln inlet system stood steadily like a pillar reaching for the sky, greatly boosting the confidence in the project's construction and sounding the clarion call for the "June 30th Ignition".
Precise hoisting and installation of the "heart" of the cement production line
The rotary kiln, as the core equipment of the cement plant, has an external dimension of φ4.8m*76m and a total weight of up to 845 tons. The hoisting of its shell is a key milestone of the project. The project department attached great importance to this matter, formulated the hoisting plan for the rotary kiln, and repeatedly checked the status of the hoisting equipment, the safety of the rigging and the accuracy of the shell interface before construction. During the hoisting process, safety personnel was on-site to supervise throughout to ensure that every step of the operation was precise and controllable. Ultimately, the kiln shell was successfully hoisted on November 30th,2024, laying a solid foundation for the operation of the entire production line.
To ensure the achievement of the owner's "June 30th Ignition" goal, the project department has always adhered to the principle of "safety first" in every construction process. Facing the scorching heat, the construction workers remained at their posts and worked hard. Facing safety pressure, the management personnel strictly controlled and implemented the tasks. The project team, with a style of "high standards, strict requirements, and strong implementation", fully carried forward the "Iron Army spirit" of "Especially hardworking, especially combative and especially dedicated", and successfully completed all construction tasks.
June 30, 2025 is a memorable day in the history of Delta cement plant. On that day, the rotary kiln of DCC Line II was successfully ignited. The blazing flames lit up the sky of Delta cement plant and also ignited the hope of better future of both Sinoma (Suzhou) and Delta Cement Company. Only 19 days later, on July 19, the rotary kiln of DCC Line II started feeding, which means this new line officially entered the trail production stage, once again demonstrating the efficiency and excellence of the cooperation between both parities.
The successful ignition of DCC Line II is not only a high recognition of the professional ability and execution ability of the project team, but also a solid confirmation of Sinoma's deep cultivation of overseas markets and expansion of business territory in Iraq.
Win-win cooperation and joint efforts to accelerate construction
Behind the "June 30th Ignition" goal lies the 502 days and nights of joint efforts by Sinoma (Suzhou) and Delta Cement Company. The project was confronted with a huge challenge of tight schedule and heavy tasks, with scorching summers, rainy winters and difficult logistics transportation. It had to complete a series of complex works from basic construction to equipment installation and commissioning within a limited time. With firm determination and close cooperation, Sinoma (Suzhou) and Delta Cement Company promptly formulated a scientific and reasonable construction plan, breaking down each task in detail and assigning responsibilities to individuals.
Mr. Omar, Deputy CEO of Delta Cement Company, and Delta management team have provided strong support for the project. They have been closely following the project planning and specific implementation, and actively coordinating various resources. Both sides have established a close communication mechanism, held regular meetings, and promptly resolved problems arising in the project. Whether it was the resolution of technical challenges or the coordination of logistics and transportation, all were properly resolved one by one through the joint efforts of both sides.
Looking back on the construction process of the DCC Line II , it is a miracle jointly created by Sinoma (Suzhou) and Delta Cement Company. During this process, both sides have demonstrated the spirit of cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative through their concrete actions.
DCC Line II as a monument that rose in the desert bears witness to the legend written by the builders with their sweat, and also foretells that the cooperative friendship between Sinoma (Suzhou) and Delta Cement Company will continue to be elevated amid the ceaseless roar of the production line day and night. In the future, Sinoma (Suzhou) will always walk hand in hand with Delta Cement Company, taking this advanced production line as a fulcrum to help it continuously break through in the competition of the Iraqi cement market, and inject a continuous stream of impetus into the solid advancement of local infrastructure construction and the vigorous development of local society.
