NIGERIA– Africa’s largest cement manufacturing company, Dangote Cement Plc, has commenced clinker exportation to other African countries, reaffirming its status as the biggest cement producer in Africa.
The first shipment from the cement producer’s Export Terminal in Apapa Port, Lagos, carried 27,800 metric tonnes of clinker and was destined for Senegal, the cement producer said in a statement.
Speaking during the departure of the ship conveying clinker, Group Executive Director, Dangote Group, Alhaji Sada Ladan-Baki said increased exportation of clinker and cement to other African countries will generate foreign exchange for the country.
He said, “Presently, Dangote Cement should either be number one or number two exporter of cement in Africa and the revenue we have generated in the form of foreign exchange is running into millions.”
Mr. Ladan-Baki disclosed that the company would also be launching its export terminal in One in the next few days.
The export terminal would enable the company export clinker, initially to its grinding facility in Cameroon and then to new grinding plants the company is building across West Africa.
This according to Laden-Baki, would also support other expansion projects outside Nigera, help increase the output of the Nigerian plants, as well as improve job creation and increase prosperity in Nigeria.
Until recently, Nigeria was one of the world’s largest bulk importers of cement. Dangote’s operations in Nigeria have however made it the first in West Africa to be self-sufficient in cement production.
The company revealed that it is expected to increase the quantity of clinker export to other African countries within the next few weeks, a move that will make Nigeria one of the leading clinker exporters in the world.
It said this development would enable Dangote Cement take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and by so doing contribute to the improvement of intra-regional trade within the ECOWAS region.
The company has plans to also send clinker from Nigeria to Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana and has a target of export at least 4 million metric tonnes of clinker annually to various parts of Africa.
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