UAE Government Suspends Fujairah Quarry

The Ministry of Environment and Water has suspended work at a quarry in the Al Taween area of Fujairah after it violated official regulations, state news agency WAM has reported.

“The suspension decision was prompted by the violation of a Cabinet resolution issued in 2008 on streamlining the activities of quarries and quarantines, and the ministerial resolution on the guidelines regulating firms operating in the quarry business,” said Sultan bin Alwan, assistant under-secretary for external audit at the ministry

Alwan said the ministry had been inspecting quarries to ensure that they comply with regulations and that suspended quarries will be permitted to resume operations only when the violations are rectified.

Around 14 quarries have been closed since the beginning of the year.

According to Cabinet Resolution No. (10/10) of 2008, stone crushing companies have to follow strict environmental protection measures while operating. The failure to do so can result in legal action or even full closure.

Apart from the environmental impact, improper stone crushing can also result in various health hazards like respiratory illness and hearing damage due to the noise generated, the ministry said earlier.

The Ministry of Environment and Water also issued an order last year to cement factories and quarries across the country to adopt proper health and safety measures like planting trees around a factory while regularly monitoring the quality of the air around them to gauge pollution.