News
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Dangote says Tanzania factory opening in August
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania - The Dangote Group plans to start cement production at its new Mtwara factory by August.
This was disclosed after a meeting between Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete and the Nigerian multi-billionaire, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (pictured right) last week. at State House.
The $500 million dollar factory, which has an annual capacity of three million tonnes, will double the country’s annual output of cement to six million tonnes.
The plan is that the Tanzanian plant will supply the domestic market and export to landlocked countries in the region.
Last year, Dangote also applied for a license to build a 75MW coal-fired plant in Tanzania that would power the cement factory.
Dangote will be competing with the likes of Tanzania Portland Cement, owned by a subsidiary of Germany’s Heidelberg Cement AG. Others are Tanga Cement, owned by Afrisam Mauritius Investment Holdings Limited and the Lafarge-owned Mbeya Cement Limited.
The Dangote Group plans to roll out plants across Africa to reach an annual capacity of 62 million tonnes by 2017, up from an estimated 42 million tonnes last year.
Meanwhile, Dangote has thrown out strong hints that he is interested in buying British Barclays Premier league team, Arsenal, although no figures have been mooted.
By John Sambo, Sunday, May 10th, 2015