Dangote: a paradigm shift
ICR took the opportunity to meet with Dangote Cement’s new CEO, Onne van der Weijde, during the recent Cemtech Middle East & Africa conference in Dubai. The former area manager for Holcim with responsibility for the company’s Indian operations, Mr van der Weijde is now at the helm of Dangote Cement alongside DVG Edwin who remains in charge of new projects. Here he gives an optimistic account of Dangote’s ambitious strategy for Africa, where the company is now targeting a total capacity of 75Mta by 2019.
Onne van der Weijde, CEO, Dangote Cement, explains the company’s distinctive
expansion strategy, specifically suited for Africa
Once a neglected backwater, served primarily by imports and plagued by supply shortages and sky-high prices, sub-Saharan Africa is undergoing a dramatic transformation. New capacity is being added in almost every country, and more often than not, Dangote Cement is leading the charge. The company has established 43Mta of capacity in just 10 years, all in sub-Saharan Africa, and is targeting 75Mta by 2019.
If anyone doubts the company’s ambitions, they need only look back at the scale of Dangote Cement’s achievements in just a decade. It has almost single-handedly turned Nigeria from a net importer to a net exporter having built up a formidable base in its home market. Today Dangote operates 29.25Mta of capacity in Nigeria and a further 9Mta is planned for 2019. Elsewhere on the continent, it is now fully operational in seven countries and is planning to add a further 31Mta by 2019.
