Dangote Cement test runs $620 million Ibese plant

Dangote Cement Plc has begun the test run of its six million metric tonnes per annum cement plant at Ibese, near the Polytechnic town of Ilaro in Ogun State, preparatory to the commencement of cement

production in August. The 620 million US dollar plant (about 99.200 billion) is said to have attained over 80 percent completion level.

These facts were disclosed by the Deputy Director, Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd, the Chinese construction firm handling the project, Dr. Ved Prakash Sarkari and a Manger in the Projects department, Engr Bolu Aladeniyi when they conducted newsmen round the expansive complex last week. Dr Sarkari stated that when the plant rolls out the first batch of ordinary Portland cement OPC, in August, it will reduce the price of the product by at least 15 percent in the open market.

He however decried the high cost of energy in the country, noting that the increase in the price of diesel from N155 per litre to N180 is being borne by manufacturers.

Engr Aladeniyi disclosed that all the raw materials required to flag off the production of cement -limestone, shale and red soil, barring gypsum, are readily available at the company’s Ibese Mines. The mines has an estimated reserve of 760 million tonnes of limestone which is expected to last for the next 105 years.