By Ayomide Otitoju
Dangote Cement Plc has announced plans to commission its 3 million tonnes per annum (Mta) grinding plant in Côte d’Ivoire by the third quarter of 2025. The move is expected to bolster the company’s pan-African footprint and contribute significantly to regional exports.
Chief Executive Officer Arvind Pathak disclosed this in a note to the Nigerian Exchange, highlighting an 18.2% growth in export volumes from Nigeria, with 18 clinker shipments successfully delivered to Ghana and Cameroon.
“This demonstrates the growing importance of our pan-African operations and our continued commitment to regional trade and self-sufficiency,” Pathak stated.
He also reaffirmed the company’s focus on long-term value creation, noting progress in optimizing costs. According to him, “We began the phased delivery of 1,600 additional CNG-powered trucks, which will reduce logistics costs and enhance environmental efficiency.”
On the financial front, Pathak said Dangote Cement delivered a strong second quarter, reflecting improved macroeconomic indicators and internal efficiencies. Group EBITDA rose by 41.8% to ₦944.9 billion, while profit increased by 174.1%.
“This remarkable performance is a testament to our disciplined execution, strong cost leadership, and the strategic investments we have made over the years,” he added.
Dangote Cement remains Africa’s largest cement producer with a total capacity of 52.0Mta. Nigeria accounts for 35.25Mta of this capacity, led by its Obajana plant in Kogi State (16.25Mta), Ibese in Ogun State (12Mta), Gboko in Benue State (4Mta), and Okpella in Edo State (3Mta). The company also operates plants in Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.
