Dangote Cement plans ahead

According to a report on AllAfrica.com, Dangote Cement Plc is looking to expand to the Middle East and Latin America. The article quotes Sunday Andondua, Deputy General Manager of the company’s Ibese Plant, who says: “We are currently operating in fourteen African countries and we shall soon move across the continent to other continents. By the time we have consolidated our hold in Africa markets, we shall go beyond the borders. Specifically, we are targeting the Middle East and Latin America. The idea is to be a world leader in cement production.” Mr Adondua further adds that the company is planning new plants in Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon.

In other Dangote Cement news, it is being reported that the company is investing more than US$250 million in converting its cement operations to run on coal in order to secure more regular fuel supplies. Mr DVG Edwin, the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement, told press that the negative impact of gas and LPFO supply problems on operations had led the group to move towards coal, which will be imported from South Africa until local sources of coal are available. All the kilns in Dangote Cement’s Nigerian plants will eventually be powered by coal. The Guardian quotes Mr Edwin, who told press in a briefing: “Already, we are expecting the first shipment of 30 000 coal from South Africa, to power 60 megawatt power plants, with another 30 megawatt generating facility on standby.” He added: ‘‘Currently, we don’t have either gas or black oil (low pour fuel oil) to run our machines fully. We even had to resort to importation of black oil to do our business.”

Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui

Additional sources:

• National Mirror
• Nigerian Tribune

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/15082014/dangote-cement-plans-ahead-298/