Itori plant drives Dangote Cement’s export expansion

Dangote Cement. Photo: Dangote

Dangote Cement’s Itori plant in Ogun State is 100 per cent export-oriented and will serve as the hub for the company’s export strategy to neighbouring markets and its sister companies across Africa, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Dangote Cement, Mr Arvind Pathak, has said.

Speaking at the Dangote Cement Capital Market Day presentation held in London recently, Pathak said the first phase of the Itori plant would deliver six million tonnes of capacity, with output expected to ramp up significantly in the coming year.

“Today, as we said in our presentation, we are already at just three million tonnes. And we expect our target next year could be approximately five million tonnes,” he said in a statement issued on Thursday.

He explained that production from Itori would predominantly be clinker, intended for the company’s sister companies in Cameroon, Senegal and other markets. This, he said, would ensure better utilisation of output, with about 60 per cent of clinker sourced internally.

Responding to questions on logistics, the GMD said clinker from Itori would be moved by road to Apapa for export, where the company already has adequate infrastructure.

“Those clinkers would be moved by road from Itori to Apapa, wherein we have adequate infrastructure. And whatever little augmentation is required, we are doing that. So no additional CAPEX will be required for that,” he noted.

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He added that Itori would also be used to supply clinker requirements to neighbouring countries such as Benin and Togo. He said demand from these two markets, together with that of its sister companies, would consume the entire capacity of the first phase.

“In the next phase of Itori, we plan for additional clinker and therein comes the additional cement production, which will be required to meet the requirements of the export scheme,” he said.

The managing director noted that new capacity requirements were emerging across the group, including grinding plants and expansion projects in countries such as Cameroon and Senegal, which would require more clinker from Nigeria.

He described Itori as strategically positioned to support underserved markets in the surrounding region while leveraging Nigeria’s limestone advantage. He said the company considered Itori a brownfield location due to its proximity, just 18 to 20 kilometres from its main basin, making it cost-efficient and quick to execute.

The Itori export strategy is part of Dangote Cement’s broader plan to reach 80 million tonnes of capacity, with brownfield expansions providing lower CAPEX and faster payback.