Dangote’s $250m cement plant opened in Senegal

In advancement of its strategy to expand cement production in Africa, Dangote Cement yesterday opened its cement plant in Senegal.
The new plant, located in Pout district, about 75 kilometres from Dakar, the country’s capital, has a nominal capacity to produce 4000 metric tonnes (MT) per day and 1.2 million MT per annum (pa).
The plant is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs, with a total production capacity of 1.5 million tonnes annually.

According to Luk Haelterman, the country head, Dangote Industries in Senegal, the plant has taken roughly $250 million so far, while actual production and sales started January 10, 2015.
‘’In this country, Dangote will not only stop at producing cement, we also have helped beyond cement. Which is the idea of the owner, to become a pan-African enterprise.
‘’Senegal is a market with over-capacity of cement (only 14m people), because it had two cement factories before now. But today, Dangote has become the biggest and best because we have and produce the 42.5R only, which is better than what we met on ground, which is the 32.5R,’’ he said, at the factory tour by Nigerian and Senegalese journalists.
Sales and Marketing Director, Serigne M. Dieng, said: ‘’Senegal with 14 million people and a GDP of 4 per cent (2013) has cement market of three million MT  per year  and a per capita consumption rate of 230kilogramme.
‘’Because of over capacity, Dangote Cement exports to Mali and the Gambia (through rail).’’
Also, the Chief Operating Officer of the plant,  Athanasios Bampos, said the location of the factory was not only rich in limestone but also in clay and laterite, which are the major components needed in cement manufacturing.
‘’The only other component which Dangote cement plants imports, gypsum, is being sold by a local firm, ICS Chemical Company, which is about 45 kilometres from the factory,’’ he said.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Senegal and Mauritania, Katyen C. Jackden, used the opportunity to thank the Senegalese government and its people for the support and opportunity given to a foreign investor like Aliko Dangote, saying.
‘’Dangote has been able to bring cohesion among African nations with his investments.”