Dangote Launches higher grade of cement, the first in Africa

As the debate rages over the quality of cement produced in the country,

leading manufacturers of the commodity, Dangote Cement Plc yesterday

raised the bar further when it launched a much higher grade of the

product, 52.5N into the Nigerian market.
 
Group Managing Director of the Company, Devakumar Edwin told newsmen in

Lagos yesterday that Dangote Cement Plc has commenced the production of

the cement grade from all of its three plants in Ibese, Ogun state, Gboko,

Benue state and Obajana in Kogi state.
 
The cement company said it has scored another first as the 52.5 grade of

cement is being produced in the Africa for the first time, thus attesting

to the resolve of the Dangote Cement to be a leading international

producer of cement.
 
Basking in the euphoria of the new feat, Edwin disclosed that the new

cement grade, which has been certified by the Standard Organization (SON),

as conforming to the requirements of NIS 444-2003 and other relevant

standards, would sell for the same amount as the lower grade 42.5N type.

Giving reasons for this, The GMD stated that the its costs more to produce

the 52.5 grade but that Dangote Cement decided to sell at the same price

in the interest of its customers and so as to make it affordable to all.

 
Edwin flaunted before newsmen, the SON certificate which read in part

“considering the inspection carried out at your factory by a team of SON

officers and the outcome of the laboratory samples of the product of your

company, I have the pleasure to inform you that the under listed product

of your company is hereby adjuged by the SON to conform to the

requirements of NIS 444-1:2003 and other relevant standards.

 
He explained that the new cement could be used for all construction purses

but that it is the best for any civil construction having bearing colum.

Edwin stated that though Dangote Cement was also the first to produce the

42.5N grade earlier while other manufacturers were churning out 32.5 grade

pointing out that the desire to constantly research into how to improve

the quality of ts products necessitated the new cement grade.

The Dangote Cement boss reasoned that with the higher grade of cement

quality, the incidence of building collapse could be controlled.

 
In his contribution, Engr. Joe Makoju, the Honorary Adviser to the

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote described the introduction of

the new cement as ground breaking, saying Nigeria is now one of the best

quality producers of cement in the world.
 
“No matter the sophistication of the structure, this is the best grade for

any civil construction. Dangote did not create the standard. The standard

has been there, we have only blazed the trail by starting its production.

Its' good for lead bearing colums”, Makoju explained.