UniCem begins construction of new cement plant

UniCem, the Nigerian cement manufacturer, has announced that construction has begun on the new 2.5 million tpa plant in Calabar, Cross River State. The new cement plant, with a reported investment of N84 billion, is set to double the company’s existing capacity to 5 million tpa when it comes online in 2016.

The project has been contracted to Sinoma. Mr Olivier Lenoir, UniCem’s Managing Director, told press this week that Sinoma is “reputed for cement plant construction across the globe with track record of project delivery from previous projects handled around the world”.

In addition to the new cement line, the project will include a 45 MW Captive Power Plant, contracted to Wärtsilä Nigeria Limited, which has already started working on the project. Mr Lenoir added, “UniCem is getting technical expertise and support for the project from its shareholders who are global cement majors”.

A road is being built to support the project and reduce the movement of vehicles through Calabar when the project is completed.

UniCem is co-owned by Nigerian Cement Holding B.V. (NCH) and Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc. NCH is the majority shareholder and is controlled by Holcim Ltd and Lafarge S.A.

Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/14032014/unicem_starts_work_on_new_cement_plant_897/