Dangote to use Sea Invest to import 1Mta into Côte d’Ivoire

Nigeria’s Dangote Cement’s subsidiary in Côte d’Ivoire plans to use the Sea Invest platform in Abidjan to import 1Mta of cement into the country.

Pending the construction of a cement plant, Dangote’s Edwin Devakumar is reported by local media to be negotiating the move with Sory Diabate of Sea Invest to use the Belgian company.

However, local cement companies CIMAF, part of Morocco’s Addoha portfolio, and Société de Cimenterie Abidjan (SCA) have protested against the plans, arguing that in Lagos, Nigeria, Dangote enjoys protection against imports. Both cement producers are said to have two influential allies in Koly Kante, president of the Board of the Autonomous Port of Abidjan and former CEO of SCA, and Moustapha Shafi, adviser to President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso.

Dangote Cement plans to invest nearly US$100m in its facilities in Côte d’Ivoire. It is expected that the Nigerian cement producer’s local subsidiary could produce 1.5Mta of cement and supply not only Côte d’Ivoire, but also Burkina Faso and Mali. The facilities are scheduled to commence operation in January 2015.