Dangote inaugurates Ethiopian cement plant

Dangote Cement has inaugurated its US$480m integrated cement works in Ethiopia in the presence of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

The new facility has a capacity of 2.5Mta and is located in West Shewa Zone, near Muger town of Oromiya Regional State, about 85km from the capital Addis Ababa. During the inauguration ceremony yesterday, Aliko Dangote, owner of the Dangote Group, said: "The ease of investing in Ethiopia proves the enduring political stability in the country and a favourable investment climate.

"We will provide social amenities and build infrastructure in our host communities in the Mugher area as part of our policy of corporate social responsibility," Dangote added.

The Ethiopian addition is part of Dangote's impressive pan-African expansion drive which has seen the Nigerian market leader recently open new factories in South Africa, Senegal, Cameroon and Zambia. The company is also building integrated plants in Tanzania, Repulic of Congo and Kenya (to be confirmed). It further plans to build import or grinding facilities in Sierra Leone, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia.