Dangote’s Ibese Cement factory to begin production Feb 2011
The dream of moving the nation to self sufficiency in cement production may get a boost soon, as Dangote Group’s Dangote Cement Works Limited, Ibese, Ogun State, is set to commence cement production in its two lines by March 26, 2011.
According to the company’s projection, the first line of the 6Mt capacity production plant will begin production on February 26, while the second line is billed to take off exactly one month later.
Briefing journalists during a facility tour on Tuesday, Dr Ved Prakash Sarkari, the Project Director, explained that the entire project worth US$680m (about N102.68bn) and mainly handled by Sinoma International Engineering Company, a Chinese firm, which would be handed over in May and June next year (both production lines).
A breakdown of the figure shows that while the infrastructure, equipment and construction is billed to cost US$400m, the remaining US$280m is being invested in a 105MW power plant, which would run on biofuels (natural gas and coal). The power plant is to be completed in February next year. The 22km long gas pipeline will be completed by December this year, just as the plant is to be linked to the National Grid three months earlier.
The factory, occupying 2000ha of land for mining of limestone with an estimated 90 years life span, is billed to produce 7200tpd of cement, thereby helping to reduce import dependence.
The factory is billed to have 300,000t storage capacity, six cement silos, roto packers that can pack 2400 (50kg) bags per hour, and about 18 trucks at a time.
Sarkari noted that the factory site has limestone deposit capacity of about 240Mt is being constructed to ensure environmentally friendly operations.
Explaining further, the project director said the plant is expected to achieve low fuel consumption, while dust emission control is taken very seriously. A total of 30mg/Nm3 maximum is the target, he said, representing just 10 per cent of the Federal Government’s 300mg/Nm3 benchmark for dust emission.
The Ibese factory capacity, according to Bolu Aladeniyi of the project management department, is also expected to add to the current production levels of the other cement production facilities in the Dangote Group. Other cement produced in the group are Benue Cement Company, which is billed to raise production capacity from the present 2.8Mta (or about 7000tpd), to 3Mta; and Obajana Cement, 6Mta, which plans a third line of 2.2Mta line.
Sarkari also stated that the project, when fully operational will provide direct employment for about 200 Nigeria, adding that there is a very cordial relationship between the company and the host community.
Besides bringing development to the community, he said the company plans to provide two boreholes for the community, as well as schools and hospitals to cater for the welfare of residence of the community, as is being done in Obajana and Gboko (BCC).
Beyond dust emission control using ultra-modern equipments, there are also plans to ensure that there is no waste as all materials will be recycled and reused.
Published under Cement News
