Onset of production of DANGOTE Cement factory A big step towards the industrialization of Congo

Denis Sassou-N'Guesso commissioned the Dangote Congo cement factory on November 23 before a cheering crowd from different parts of the Bouenza department, in the presence of several national bodies and a powerful Nigerian delegation of 150 persons, including two members of the Government of the Federal State of Nigeria. With production at full capacity estimated at nearly 2.000.000 tons per year, Dangote Cement is the largest cement producer in Central Africa, and a major supplier of jobs. According to its Chief Executive Officer, the Dangote Group also aims to diversify its activities in Congo, focusing in particular on agriculture.

The latest of Congo cement factories, Dangote Cement is located in the Bouenza department, precisely in the village of Mfila, in the Yamba district. It is also by far, the greatest of all. With a production capacity of 3000 tons per day, this giant cement plant stands out as one of the most important industrial achievements in the country. The cost of the works amounts to more than 139 billion725million FCFA. The advent of this cement plant is an important step towards Congo's industrialization process and its development. Reading the history of development in Yamba, Gilbert Ondongo, Minister of State, Minister of Economy and Industry, said "a country that is industrializing is a country that is on the road to development ". He confessed great pride for Aliko Dangote, the worthy son of Africa who chose to make one of his biggest investments in Congo. Aliko Dangote for his part said that "this plant will help reduce and stop cement imports into Congo and other surrounding countries". Indeed, the overproduction of cement from Dangote Cement could be exported to the ten member States of the Central African Community; a market of nearly 200 million people where many infrastructure projects are taking place. With this plant, Congo is expected to join exporting countries of industrial products, wood and crude oil. The strong mobilization observed on the scene of the event, was the measure of hope that this industry arouses in families. Because once operational, the Dangote Cement plant could create more than 650 permanent jobs. In the long term, its production capacity could reach 5.000 tons of cement per day; almost 2.000.000 tons a year. Thanks to the six loading lines installed, there would be between 24.000 and 26.000 bags of cement per hour. The warehouses of the finished product have a capacity of 14.000 tons. Equipped with the latest generation equipment, this cement plant is up to standard in terms of environmental impact. If the standard is at 50 mg / m3, Dangote with its 59 bag filters, proposes to go down to less than 30 mg / m3.

In 2013, the Dangote Group was declared the largest cement production industry in sub-Saharan Africa. Its investment projects are in the order of $ 10 Billion, thanks to the construction of several cement production units in many countries such as: South Africa, Ethiopia, Zambia, Senegal, Mozambique, and Cameroon. The ambitions of its CEO, the Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote, are enormous in that he would like to bring the annual production of his group to 77 million tons of cement, by the end of 2019 compared with 43.6 million tons to date, thanks to the installation of several other units.

Dangote Cement is thus added to several other cement plants already operating in Congo; these are: Ciments de l'Afrique (CIMAF) in Makola, in the urban city of Hinda, in the department of Kouilou, with an annual production capacity of 500.000 tons; Forspak in Dolis in the Niari and Sonocc in Loutétédans in the Bouenzad have a production capacity of around 300.000 tons / year. The one under construction in Mindouli in the Department of Pool, has almost completely stopped its activities because of the prevailing insecurity in the area. Its projected production is about 600.000 tons / year. The cement industry is a source of hope in Congo, partly because of the country's natural potential, and because of the important position it occupies in the national economy, particularly in the economic diversification process underway.

Jules Debel