Why we introduced a higher cement grade –Dangote

By Etuka Sunday

One of the leading cement companies in Nigeria, Dangote Cement Plc has clarified that the reason for the introduction of the higher cement grade (52.5N) was to offer consumers variety of choices in their quest for quality products.

Group Managing Director of the Company, Devakumar Edwin told a group of block makers who visited his office at the weekend that the new cement grade would be produced alongside the 42.5 grade noting that Dangote Cement would not relent in the quest to sanitize the industry and rid the market of lower quality cement.

According to him the launching of the new cement was one of the responses of Dangote Cement as a leading manufacturer of the commodity in Africa to the efforts at stemming the tide of building collapse

relating to cement.

It would be recalled that Dangote Cement Plc at a press briefing had announced the commencement of a production of a higher grade of cement, 52.5N, being first in Africa to produce such.

Edwin told newsmen the 52.5N has been a standard already in existence and that it was just that Dangote Cement decided to be producing it to add to the choices of quality cement available in the market for its consumers.

Stating that the new brand is now being produced from all of its three plants in Ibese, Ogun state, Gboko, Benue state and Obajana in Kogi state, the GMD disclosed that it would sell for the same amount as the 42.5 despite that the cost of production is higher. “It is in the interest of our customers to make it affordable”, he stated.

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 standard institutions would be made available in all parts of the country.

He explained that the new cement could be used for all construction purposes but that it is the best for any civil construction having load bearing Colum.