Dangote buys $35m sugar farm machinery

Dangote Sugar has purchased a farm machinery worth $35 million from Panafrican Equipment, which underscores its renewed commitment to lifting sugar production in Nigeria.

Group Managing Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Graham Clark said the purchase was in line with the  with the Backward Integration Policy (BIP) of the Federal Government of Nigeria and National Sugar Development Council (NSDC).

'This is yet another milestone in the Dangote Sugar journey as we work towards the achievement of our strategic sugar master plan to produce 1.5 million metric tonnes of sugar per annum, locally,' Clark said.

He spoke  at the equipment handover ceremony, at Tin Can Island Port Complex, Apapa, Lagos, at the weekend.

In line with its target of producing a total of 1.5 million tonnes of sugar locally per annum, Dangote Sugar has undertaken some strategic intiatives, which include the acquisition of additional hectares of land allocated across Nigeria for the project.

The company also plans to invest additional N180billion towards the realisation of the Dangote Sugar Project, with farms located in Sokoto, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Jigawa, Taraba States amongst others.

In his remarks,  the Group Managing Director of Panafrican Equipment, Scott McCaw, expressed delight for being chosen by Dangote Sugar as the equipment supplier.

He describe the sale as landmark deal in Nigeria and Africa.

He said,  'We are delighted to have been chosen by Dangote Sugar as a major supplier for their agricultural expansion project in Sugar production in Nigeria. We look forward to building on this relationship and to being their partner for development in Nigeria now and in the future. As the sale includes a long-term maintenance support and parts supply contract, we fully expect to maintain a critical role in helping Dangote Sugar achieve their goals in the sugar backward integration project'.