Dangote Cement has applied for a licence to build a 75MW coal-fired plant in Tanzania that would power its 3Mta cement plant under construction.
 
"Dangote Industries ... applied for a 75 MW electricity generation licence to build, own and operate a coal-based captive power plant adjacent to its cement manufacturing plant," the state-run Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Any interruption in power supply or unstable voltage/frequency causes extensive damage to the refractory and also to the rotary kiln parts. Refractory failures cause production shutdowns varying from 15 to 30 days and unscheduled use of costly imported refractory bricks," the regulator added.

The cement factory it is constructing in southern Tanzania is scheduled to be commissioned in the second half of next year.