Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has officially commissioned a $250 million cement grinding plant in the Attingué industrial zone near Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The facility, with an annual production capacity of 3 million tonnes, is the largest Dangote Cement has built outside Nigeria.

Currently, the plant elevates Ivory Coast’s total cement production capacity to approximately 19 million tonnes annually, mitigating supply bottlenecks and meeting rising infrastructure demand across West Africa.

Strategic Growth and Sustainability

Arvin Pathak, CEO of Dangote Cement, noted that Nigeria’s exports of clinker rose by 18.2%, reaching Ghana and Cameroon, underscoring the company’s expanding regional trade footprint. Dangote Cement is also fast adopting 1,600 CNG-powered trucks—boosting cost-efficiency and reducing environmental impact .Dabafinance

Strategic Impact

• Reducing Cement Imports: The plant is projected to cut Ivory Coast’s reliance on imported cement significantly, helping the country and neighboring West African nations move toward self-sufficiency.
• Job Creation: This investment promises to create between 2,000 and 3,000 direct jobs, offering vital economic opportunities and sparking regional development.
• Regional Integration: Dangote emphasized that the plant is more than an industrial venture; it symbolizes the vision of a strong, self-reliant Africa built by Africans.