Maroc - DCONNECTNEWS.COM.NG - A La Une - 13/Nov 21:11

Dangote Group Reaffirms Commitment to Zambia’s Economic Growth

President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote and his team, paid a courtesy call on His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia. The visit underscores the Dangote Group’s continued commitment to supporting Zambia’s national development agenda.Since its establishment in Zambia, the Dangote Group has demonstrated strong confidence in the host economy. Dangote Cement Zambia Limited (DCZL) represents the single largest investment in the country’s manufacturing sector, with an outlay exceeding USD 500 million. Commissioned in 2015, the 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) integrated cement plant in Ndola includes a 30 MW captive power plant and a fleet of over 400 trucks to ensure efficient nationwide distribution.The entry of Dangote Cement transformed Zambia from a net importer of cement into a leading exporter within the SADC region. Since commissioning, DCZL has sold more than 8 million tonnes of cement and remains the market leader for quality and reliability. In recognition of its excellence, Dangote Cement’s flagship product, Dangote 3X, was named Runner-up Product of the Year 2025 by the Zambian Association of Manufacturers (ZAM). The company has also been awarded Exporter of the Year by ZAM and the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) for three consecutive years (2021–2023), maintaining a runner-up position in 2024–2025.Dangote Cement Zambia directly employs over 1,200 people, with an additional 5,000 benefiting indirectly through ancillary sectors such as logistics, engineering, and local supply chains. All raw materials are sourced locally, ensuring that value creation and economic benefits remain within Zambia.As part of its sustainability strategy, Dangote Cement has made significant progress in reducing its carbon footprint by replacing over 30% of fossil fuels with alternative fuels such as used tyres, municipal waste, plastic, sawdust, and corn cobs. The company is certified by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) to safely dispose of hazardous waste and has received multiple Environmental and Sustainability Awards for its leadership in green manufacturing practices.During the visit, President Hichilema commended the Dangote Group for its continued contribution to national development and urged the company to partner the Government and the private sector in addressing Zambia’s ongoing energy challenges.In response, Dangote reaffirmed the Group’s commitment to supporting Government initiatives aimed at mitigating climate change and strengthening the energy and agriculture sectors. He emphasised Zambia’s vast potential for agricultural expansion through diversification into climate-smart and irrigation-based farming, aligning with the nation’s goals for economic resilience and food security.Dangote also pledged to explore investments in solar and thermal energy generation, leveraging the Ndola facility to help address power deficits in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He also expressed interest in harnessing Zambia’s mineral resources, including coal, to develop sustainable power solutions for the region.Dangote’s visionary investment in a 30 MW captive power plant has enabled self-sufficiency and allowed the company to feed 8 MW of power back into the national grid through the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC), contributing to Zambia’s energy resilience.President Hichilema welcomed Dangote’s commitment, affirming that Zambia is ready to partner the Dangote Group to unlock new opportunities for industrial growth and regional cooperation. These initiatives are aligned with the Government’s 8th National Development Plan (2022–2026), particularly in the areas of manufacturing, energy, and agriculture.Through sustained investment, innovation, and collaboration, the Dangote Group continues to position itself as a trusted strategic partner in Zambia’s industrialisation and economic transformation journey.