Dangote Industries Zambia Limited has announced that the construction of its multi-million dollar greenfield cement plant in Masaiti District in Copperbelt Province is on course and scheduled to be commissioned in Q1 2014
According to the company’s chief general manager Vivek Heblikar, the Chinese contractor Sinoma Limited has been making steady progress with the construction works.
"The works at the newly-established plant is progressing well. We are on schedule and we are likely to commission the plant in May of June next year," he said.
Heblikar paid tribute to Tanzanian government for the support given to the company, adding that the contractor would hand over to Dangote as soon as all formalities have been completed next year.
Dangote will create thousands of jobs upon completion of the US$400mn cement plant. It is expected that more than 1,500 direct and indirect jobs would be created during the construction and operational phases.
The cement plant will produce 1.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and will be the largest in Zambia.
Sinoma has since finalised the construction of offices and houses for the company.
In March 2011, Dangote signed an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) with the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) through which it was going to enjoy incentives in relation to the inward investments.
Nawa Mutumweno
