Dangote Cement gets presidential commendation on mining

The Federal Government has commended the Dangote Group for its satisfactory and skilful mining of raw materials for the group's cement plants in Nigeria.

Speaking at the second Miners Stakeholders Forum 2013 held last week in Abuja, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Mohammad Sada, said the Dangote mining operation was the best in the country because it strictly adhered to global best practice, and had met the entire requirement expected of it by the mining laws and policies of the Federal Government.

The stakeholders forum organised by the Miners Association of Nigeria had Dangote Group as the major sponsor.

'Dangote's mining business is a success because it uses new technology and does it skilfully by turning the raw material into real value, putting into consideration the people and the environment. That is why Dangote is so much respected everywhere in the country,' the minister said.

It is always better that mining operations are in the hands of Nigerians, he said, noting that it is only 'Nigerians that can develop Nigeria.'

Speaking at the forum, Aliko Dangote, president, Dangote Group, said that at its present installed cement production capacity, the Group potentially required about 32MMt of quarried material to operate at optimum output, making it the largest mining company in Nigeria.

Represented by Joseph Makoju, an executive director, Dangote said: 'At Ibese, the limestone characteristics allow us to avoid blasting through the use of surface mining technology. The equipment used is highly sophisticated and we are the only cement company in Nigeria (and possibly in Africa) using this technology. The absence of blasting means there is no vibration and the ecosystem is not disturbed.'

He also said his cement company had intensified it corporate social responsibility programmes in the communities hosting its mining operations.

Sani Shehu, president, Miners Association of Nigeria, commended the Dangote Group for supporting the forum and for the development of mining business in Nigeria.