Dangote Cement has commissioned its 3Mta Mtwara cement plant in Tanzania and held a groundbreaking ceremony for a 26ha jetty, as the Nigerian cement major continues its expansion drive in Africa and beyond.

The new plant is expected to reduce imports into Tanzania as well as bring down prices in the country. The company aims to Tanzania's main consumption centres as well as neighbouring markets. Dangote Cement previously noted that although located near the coast, the plant will be able to serve local and export markets, given Tanzania's proximity to other countries within the duty-free Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) trading zone.

The Mtwara facitily is the fourth Dangote Cement plant to be commissioned this year after it opened works in Cameroon, Zambia and Ethiopia. According to group president Aliko Dangote, the company has plans to be present in 18 countries, mostly across Africa but also in Nepal, Asia.