Private Saudi company Riyadh Cement Co said it had awarded a contract to China Sinoma International Engineering Co. to double its cement production capacity by the end of 2009.

Sinoma, which has already built the Saudi firm's existing production line, will add a second production line to double Riyadh Cement's annual cement production capacity to 4 million tonnes, the Saudi firm said in an emailed statement.

The announcement of the expansion contract coincides with the expected start later on Tuesday of a two-day state visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to the kingdom, China's top energy supplier.

Sinoma is a subsidiary of China National Materials Co (1893.HK). (Reporting by Souhail Karam, editing by Will Waterman).

Date: Feb.28,2009