Dangote Industries says the US$400 million cement plant in Masaiti district on the Copperbelt will be commissioned by the end this month.
Dangote Industries Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Aliko Dangote said in an interview on departure at Ndola’s Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport today that the commissioning of the cement plant has been delayed due to flooding.
Mr. Dangote said that there was flooding in the plant coupled with the delay in getting a permit from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) which led to starting late.
“Hopefully, we will start production in the next two to three weeks or so and I think we are overcoming that.But the rainy season this year has been very intense which has given us a lesson to protect ourselves next time we are in operations. So by and large, we are pushing and the team will try and deliver the factory by the end of this month, our power is already on so we are making good progress,” Mr. Dangote said.
He said there has been good progress made on another cement plant to be constructed in Chilanga.He added that permission had already been granted to get into the land and start mining and that most likely the same contractor (SINOMA) might move to build an identical plant with the one in Masaiti.
He stated that the difference between Dangote investment and others was that theirs were fresh dollars coming into the economy of the country.
“We took the risk of bringing our foreign exchange which even now when you look at it, if we had borrowed Kwacha it would have been cheaper for us now. We will end up investing about US$900 million in the Zambian economy, but its worth it because we are all Africans,” Mr. Dangote said.
Richest man in Africa and yet humble man. If he were a Zambian living in Zambia, he would by now have gone into politics.
or the Locals would have ensured of his demise.
They were several rich Zambians in pre-Independent Zambia i.e. Northern Rhodesia. The Luka Mumbas, Nselemukilas were able to compete with white-run bus companies such as CARS the forerunner of UBZ. The Kashimbayas in Mufulira were running successful retail businesses and driving the latest American cars with wings like planes. Then came independence and KK. He introduced the leadership code and parastatals, with unlimited government funds, which were in direct completion with local entrepreneurs. Ba “makobo” on the mines were able to buy brand new Vauxhauls until KK nationalised the mines. Such nostalgia! I was an apprentice on the mines at the time.
Competition not completion.
Congratulations Aliko; we have been robed by Larfarge and Zambezi for too long.
I wished GBM & HH were as humble as this great son of Africa but alas the duo are puffed up with pride because of some few trucks and cattle.Well done Mr Dangote, u’re my role model.
That’s because those are they only rich people you know…there are wealthy people in Zambia who you will never see in the limelight, who have been quietly making money since the 70s.
A noble son of Africa indeed..hope your business succeeds in Zambia
Meanwhile others are witch haunting, robbing the nation and depleting the national treasury. DANGOTE is making money even his slept and above all creating employment for ZAMBIANS
*****s; the same chaps are supporting BOKO ALAM… come what may, these are all wrong chaps
Great news for Zambia! Hopefully this development will bring on competition to construction materials industry and prices to drop as expected. Majority of poor Zambians should be able to benefit massively from this timely commissioning
I doubt the genuiness of the DOLLARS this nigerian brot onto zambian market, he must have brot fake dollaz thus why the kwachahas gone kaput. Cement has not been an issue in zambia so ur investment is not unique, unless u brot a mutototo plant
Yes we are all Africans
@RigoeSanchez, you are spot-on. Larfarge and Zambezi Portland formed a cartel & i hope Dangote does not join them.We want to see the TRUE price of cement in Zambia.
Nigerians r cheerful than most africans…