Dangote Cement consolidates position as Africa’s largest cement manufacturing company

Dangote Cement Plc , consolidated its leadership position as Africa’s largest cement manufacturing company, when it formally introduced the 32.5 grade of cement meant only for plastering, into the Nigerian market.

With an annual production of over 42 million metric tonnes of cement in all its plants scattered across about 14 African countries, Dangote Cement Plc is the undisputed leader in the cement manufacturing sector in the continent. In Nigeria, the company produces 29.5 million metric tonnes of cement annually in its three plants located in Gboko in Benue State, Ibeshe in Ogun State and Obajana in Kogi State.

Speaking at the formal launch of the new product, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. DevakumarV.G. Edwin explained that Dangote Cement ventured into the production of 32.5 grade of the product because the regulatory agency -the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has clearly spelt out the different uses of the various grades of cement which must be complied with by the cement manufacturing companies.

Recalling the bitter controversy that greeted the clamour for the standardization of cement, Edwin maintained that the 42.5R grade of cement will remain Dangote Cement’s flagship product because of its superiority and varied uses.

Edwin said the company had resisted numerous pleas by its customers to produce the lower 32.5 grade and sell at a cheaper price, because it didn’t want the product to be misapplied . “Now the regulatory authority, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON has stepped in. SON has taken controlling measures and they (SON) have re-emphasised that anybody producing the 32.5 cement must design their bags in a specific manner and the bags should carry clearly that this cement is meant for plastering only and not for any other application.

The Dangote Cement GMD also gave reasons for the recent reduction of the price of the 50kg premium bag of cement. According to him, the 32.5 grade of cement will now sell at N1,000 ex-factory while the 42.5R will go for N1,150 ex factory (excluding cost of transportation), because the supply has outstripped the demand for the product.