Topic: Saudis 'fear sand shortage'

[Sethan]

Who would have thought anyone in the middle east would worry about running out of sand!

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3243623.stm

Saudis 'fear sand shortage'

Saudi Arabia has reportedly imposed strict border checks to enforce a ban on the export of sand.
There are fears that the growing demands of the construction industry could lead to a shortage in the desert kingdom.

The Arab News newspaper reports that neighbouring Bahrain needs to import large quantities of sand for reclaiming land from the sea.

Demand is also expected to grow as the process of reconstruction in Iraq gathers pace.

Although sand remains plentiful in Saudi Arabia, construction experts say the high costs of bagging and transporting make exploiting it difficult.

Experts have told the newspaper that if a mechanism could be devised to move sand from the vast desert region known as the Empty Quarter, it could be a very profitable proposition.

As the paper points out, there is more sand in the kingdom than oil.

Cement is also in high demand, the report says, with many cement factories having to expand their production capabilities to meet domestic demand.
 

[vsfedwards]

  ...I cant say much more...I'm laughing to much...  

[NJAntman]

Quote:

Saudi Arabia has reportedly imposed strict border checks to enforce a ban on the export of sand.
There are fears that the growing demands of the construction industry could lead to a shortage in the desert kingdom.
 

 
So what happens if a sandstorm moves across the border? Call out the Saudi AF to intercept? Or maybe just send threatening letters to whomever the sand lands on to return it or face prosecution.

Whatever royal cousin in the Saudi gov't thought of this one should move on to convincing the Eskimos to worry about depleting their ice-cube stocks.  

[Sethan]

Who would have thought anyone in the middle east would worry about running out of sand!

---

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3243623.stm

Saudis 'fear sand shortage'

Saudi Arabia has reportedly imposed strict border checks to enforce a ban on the export of sand.
There are fears that the growing demands of the construction industry could lead to a shortage in the desert kingdom.

The Arab News newspaper reports that neighbouring Bahrain needs to import large quantities of sand for reclaiming land from the sea.

Demand is also expected to grow as the process of reconstruction in Iraq gathers pace.

Although sand remains plentiful in Saudi Arabia, construction experts say the high costs of bagging and transporting make exploiting it difficult.

Experts have told the newspaper that if a mechanism could be devised to move sand from the vast desert region known as the Empty Quarter, it could be a very profitable proposition.

As the paper points out, there is more sand in the kingdom than oil.

Cement is also in high demand, the report says, with many cement factories having to expand their production capabilities to meet domestic demand.
 

[vsfedwards]

  ...I cant say much more...I'm laughing to much...  

[NJAntman]

Quote:

Saudi Arabia has reportedly imposed strict border checks to enforce a ban on the export of sand.
There are fears that the growing demands of the construction industry could lead to a shortage in the desert kingdom.
 

 
So what happens if a sandstorm moves across the border? Call out the Saudi AF to intercept? Or maybe just send threatening letters to whomever the sand lands on to return it or face prosecution.

Whatever royal cousin in the Saudi gov't thought of this one should move on to convincing the Eskimos to worry about depleting their ice-cube stocks.  

[Sethan]

Who would have thought anyone in the middle east would worry about running out of sand!

---

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3243623.stm

Saudis 'fear sand shortage'

Saudi Arabia has reportedly imposed strict border checks to enforce a ban on the export of sand.
There are fears that the growing demands of the construction industry could lead to a shortage in the desert kingdom.

The Arab News newspaper reports that neighbouring Bahrain needs to import large quantities of sand for reclaiming land from the sea.

Demand is also expected to grow as the process of reconstruction in Iraq gathers pace.

Although sand remains plentiful in Saudi Arabia, construction experts say the high costs of bagging and transporting make exploiting it difficult.

Experts have told the newspaper that if a mechanism could be devised to move sand from the vast desert region known as the Empty Quarter, it could be a very profitable proposition.

As the paper points out, there is more sand in the kingdom than oil.

Cement is also in high demand, the report says, with many cement factories having to expand their production capabilities to meet domestic demand.
 

[vsfedwards]

  ...I cant say much more...I'm laughing to much...  

[NJAntman]

Quote:

Saudi Arabia has reportedly imposed strict border checks to enforce a ban on the export of sand.
There are fears that the growing demands of the construction industry could lead to a shortage in the desert kingdom.
 

 
So what happens if a sandstorm moves across the border? Call out the Saudi AF to intercept? Or maybe just send threatening letters to whomever the sand lands on to return it or face prosecution.

Whatever royal cousin in the Saudi gov't thought of this one should move on to convincing the Eskimos to worry about depleting their ice-cube stocks.