Dangote hits market with new 52.5n grade of cement

… The first in Africa

By Etuka Sunday

The leading manufacturers of cement in Nigeria, Dangote Cement Plc yesterday launched a much higher grade of the product, 52.5N into the Nigerian market.

This is coming at a time the debate over the quality of cement produced in the country is gathering momentum at the National Assembly.

Group Managing Director of the Company, Devakumar Edwin told newsmen in Lagos 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.

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.

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 its 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.