Dangote begins manufacturing of higher cement grade

Dangote Cement Plc on Monday announced that it had commenced the production of the 52.5 higher grade of cement.

The company’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, said at a press briefing in Lagos that the product, which has already hit the market, would be officially unveiled at the end of the month.

Edwin said the production of the cement grade commenced from the company’s three plants in Ibese, Ogun State; Gboko, Benue State; and Obajana, Kogi state.

“This is another first as the 52.5 grade of cement is being produced in Africa for the first time,” he stated.

The GMD said the new cement grade, which has been certified by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria as conforming to the NIS 444-2003 requirements and other relevant standards, would sell for the same amount as the 42.5 grade.

He added that the new grade costs more to produce but that the company decided to sell it at the same price with the lower grade in the interest of the consumers.

According to Edwin, the certification, which was obtained late last year, came after an inspection carried out on the company’s factory by a team from the SON.

He explained that the new cement grade could be used for all construction purposes but that it was specifically created for civil construction with columns.

“With the higher grade of cement quality, the incidence of building collapse can be controlled,” Edwin said.

The Special Adviser to the President of the Dangote Group, Mr. Joseph Makoju, stated that the introduction of the new cement grade was ground-breaking.

He added that with the new grade, the country had become the producer of the best quality cement in the world.

“No matter the sophistication of the structure, this is the best grade for any civil construction. Dangote did not create the standard. The standard has been there, we have only blazed the trail by starting its production,” Makoju said.