Company begins work on Okpella, Itori cement plants

ayodele johnson

February 9, 2016 10:55 AM

The cement company has made various plans that will ensure that it becomes West Africa, and indeed Africa’s main producer

Aliko Dangote

Dangote Cement Plc announced that it has commenced the construction of cement plants in Okpella, Edo State, and Itori, Ogun State.

It is predicted that the new plants will add nine million metric tonnes per annum to the company’s current local cement output of 29.25 million tonnes.

The Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, said both plants were expected to come on stream within the next three years, adding that the move was to help expand the company’s manufacturing plants, thereby reducing the transportation cost component of its operations.

READ: Company gains after plans to expand operations

“The new investments will further lower the cost of production, bring about future reduction of the price of cement and also generate employment opportunities for youths of the host communities,”

“There has always been a surplus in demand because cement was not readily available, but ours is available and the prices are affordable.

“Consumer prices have fallen by 35 per cent in naira terms, but if you take it in dollar terms and relate it with today’s parallel market rates, you will realise that the price of the product has gone down in Nigeria, and in some cases below the prevailing average global price. This, in itself, is a huge driver for increasing the per capita consumption.”

The cement company has made various plans that will ensure that it becomes West Africa, and indeed Africa’s main producer.

ayodele johnson