Dangote breaks ground on Tanzania plant

Dangote Cement has marked the next step of its impressive African expansion drive by laying the foundation stone for a new cement plant in Tanzania.

"The groundbreaking ceremony of the 3Mt cement factory takes place today [27 May 2013] in Tanzania, a statement from the Dangote group said.

The Tanzania plant forms part of the company’s plant to expanding its operations not only in its domestic market of Nigeria, but further afield in other west and central African markets.

Expansion projects are currently in progress in a number of countries including a 1.5Mta plant in Senegal, as well as integrated cement plants in Ethiopia, Zambia and South Africa. A  cement grinding plant in Cameroon and a terminal in Sierra Leone are also in progress. According to Dangote Cement CEO, DVG Edwin, the  South African plant will get commissioned before the end of the year, the Zambian works early next year, followed by Ethiopia and the Cameroon plant. Projects are also in the pipeline in the Republic of Congo and  Gabon, we have finalised the site and terminals in Ghana and Liberia.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting last week in Abuja, the company's chairman Aliko Dangote attributed the growth to expansion and increase in sales volumes from 8.66Mt in 2011 to 10.38Mt in 2012.