Sierra Leone Telegraph: 15 June 2020:
To reaffirm its status as the biggest cement producer in Africa, Dangote Cement has set the pace with the exportation of 27,800 metric tonnes of clinker to a neighbouring African country.
With this historic maiden voyage from its Export Terminal located in Apapa Port, Lagos weekend, Dangote has gradually made Nigeria, which until recently was one of the world’s largest bulk importers of cement, first self-sufficient in cement production, and now an exporter of cement clinker to other countries.
The exportation of clinker from the Dangote Cement Export Terminal will also place Nigeria as one of the leading clinker exporters in the world. The company is expected to increase the quantity of clinker export to other African countries within the next few weeks, it was further learnt.
It said this development would enable Dangote Cement take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and by so doing contribute to the improvement of intra-regional trade within the ECOWAS region.
The Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) has therefore commended Dangote Cement for leading the way for Nigeria to become one of the biggest cement and clinker exporter in the world.
Speaking during the departure of the ship conveying clinker from the Export Terminal at the weekend, Group Executive Director, Dangote Group, Alhaji Sada Ladan-Baki said the increased exportation of clinker and cement to other African countries would not only place Dangote Cement among top clinker exporters in the world, but would also boost Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings and reduce unemployment in the country.
“The beauty of what we have done is that we are going to be generating foreign exchange for the country in terms of dollars and Euros. For every batch of clinker we export, the money comes back to Nigeria. The amount we are talking about is not small. Presently, Dangote Cement should either be number one or number two exporter of cement in Africa and the revenue we have generated in the form of foreign exchange is running into millions. Today, we have formally launched the Dangote Cement Export Terminal. We are still going to do another major launch when the second ship is going out of the country,” he added.
Alhaji Sada recalled that only a few years ago, Nigeria was one of the world’s largest bulk importers of cement, saying that “Dangote has gradually made Nigeria self-sufficient in cement production as well as an exporter of clinker to other countries.
He disclosed that the company would also be launching its export terminal in Onne in the next few days, adding that the export terminal would enable the company export clinker, initially to its grinding facility in Cameroon and then to new grinding plants the company is building across West Africa.
He explained that not only would this generate useful foreign currency for Dangote Cement to support other expansion projects outside Nigeria, it would also help to increase the output of the Nigerian plants, saying these would help to improve job creation and increase prosperity in Nigeria.
He stated: “This terminal will assist Dangote to actualise the full potential of the company’s investment in cement. You know as usual, when the rain comes, sales decline, but not clinker export. This feat by Dangote is going to generate a lot of jobs because the Export Terminal has already created jobs to many Nigerians. As at now, the numbers of employed Nigerians at the terminal have reached 100. We are targeting about 200 to 300 workers in Lagos Terminal alone.
“But, apart from job creation opportunities, the exportation of clinker by Dangote will position the country to participate fully in the Africa Free Trade Liberalisation Agreement when it comes into being, so that Nigeria will be protected against foreign products. It will also help the country compete effectively with every country that are in the business of exportation of clinker. At Dangote Cement, we are going about it aggressively and we are seeing it as an opportunity.”
Alhaji Sada said the company has also concluded plans to increase its clinker and cement export to other countries. “This vessel, being the maiden ship is exporting 27,800 metric tonnes to Senegal and this is just a tip of the ice-berg as to what we have in plan. What we have in plan is to send clinker from Nigeria to Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana. Cameroon as an example, takes about 82,000 metric tonnes every month. Our target is to export at least 4 million metric tonnes of clinker annually to various parts of Africa.
“That is our target that we hope to achieve within the next one to two years. This particular voyage is going to our sister company in Senegal. We have an integrated plant of 1.5 million tonnes and this one is expected to give the plant additional clinker that is required for the plant to sustain production. In the next one week or two, we are going to be shipping 82,000 metric tonnes to Cameroon in batches of about 25,000 to 29,000 metric tonnes per voyage,” he added.
Speaking on Dangote’s achievement, the Acting Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Chuma Oruche praised the wealthiest man in Africa for leading the way in the export of product from Nigeria to other countries.
According to him, this feat by Dangote Cement is capable of boosting Nigeria’s foreign earning and reduce unemployment in the country.
He said: “The export of clinker by Dangote Cement at the weekend will definitely be beneficial to Nigerian economy in terms of export earnings, job creation and wealth creation for families connected with these achievements.”
Hahahaha, what a cheap shot Senesie Boima. Thanks for exposing your ignorance in the microeconomics of a capitalist/free-market system. I am not sure what your area of studies was, however, it appears, you lack basic fundamental understanding of how economics operates in every society. Sierra Leone’s economy operates largely within the confines of capitalism — trade and industry mostly controlled by private owners for profit. I am far from being an economist, however, even a primary pupil understands that prices of commodities in a society are dictated by the ‘supply and demand’ principles of microeconomics.
Almost all economies across the globe, including communist China operate under this basic principle. When it comes to giving an advantage to local contents/industries, local governments have a wide range of options, including giving tax breaks and subsidies. An economy whose government is perceived to be interfering in fixing market prices of commodities risk deterring potential investors, leading to a sluggish growth. So contrary to your ignorance and lack of foresight insinuations Senesie Boima, more competition leads to cheaper commodities — allowing our citizens to do more with their meager earnings, hence expanding our overall economic activities.
Dangote group is doing a good job for Africa and we must all join hands to welcome and embrace them in our various Countries. The lack of cement in many Countries is a key issues that slow down development initiatives, most especially construction work in rural and promote parts of any Country, hope your Voyage will also extend to Africa oldest republic Liberia. The locally made CEMENTCO is unable to serve the entire Country, it’s concentration is in Monrovia and fewer rural Cities, our hope is to see you in Liberia soon to extend your sale in far to reach places to speed up development in this part of Africa. Thanks!
Yong4na as far as I can see, you are anti-protectionist of our novel growing infant industries that are based in mama Salone. And all you want is for the regulators not to protect these infant industries and get them closed by mature well resourced company like the Dangote Group of Companies just to satisfy your egoistic/selfish ambition for cheaper imported products to compete with those produced in mama Salone.
Mr. Dangote continues his upwards establishment while expanding his footprints across mother Africa. Definitely, an enviable feat, unparalleled by any achievement we as a continent have observed by any of our indigenes. For us in Sierra Leone, the arrival of the Dangote cement few years back added some competition in the local market. Rumors had it that, Mr. Dangote had wanted to sell his cement much cheaper than the locally produce LEOCEM, but ‘the powers that be’ dictated, the price must be higher than the local market, else, no deal.
I clearly understand the need for preservation of our local contents, however, the competing market forces should have been allowed to play itself, opposed to the obnoxious bureaucratic intervention. Nonetheless, my contractor has always advocated for us to buy the Dantoge cement for its seemingly high quality and bulk density. During the past few weeks, not exactly sure what the cause is, cement scarcity has engulfed the entire Freetown. This has led to an increase in cement price from 70,000 to 80,000 leones. If both local cement factories along with imported ones are unable to meet supply demands across the nation, it begs the question, when exactly are we going to start moving towards the positive direction as a nation?