Dangote Cement Plc has said it will increase local production in Cameroon following the ban on importation of the product by the country’s government.
This is coming on the heels of the unveiling of the 42.5 cement grade in the Cameroonian market after the inauguration of the company’s 1.5 million-metric-tonne capacity per annum plant in Douala.
The firm said in a statement on Sunday that the gesture of the Cameroonian government and the ban on importation was a vote of confidence in the ability of cement manufacturers in the country, especially Dangote Cement, to meet and surpass local consumption demand.
The General Manager and Head of the Cameroonian factory, Abdulahi Baba, was quoted as saying that the three manufacturers of cement in the country were about surpassing local consumption demand and that the management of Dangote was already looking towards export prospects to neighbouring countries.
He noted that Cameroon, with a consumption growth of eight per cent and local production of 2.9 million metric tonnes per annum, the Dangote management was looking at export potential to Chad, Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Togo as well as future expansion.
“The company has put strategies in place to achieve 30 per cent market share. There are also plans of achieving 30 per cent export of total production,” he said.
Baba added that demand was growing daily because of the infrastructure developmental efforts of the government.
He said, “We will take the advantage of the ban on cement importation here in Cameroon. We have a structured distributorship system in place and our route to market is very clear and defined. We are building a jetty so that we are not held down but have smooth distribution during congestion at the ports.”
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