DANGOTE CEMENT DRIVES AFRICA’S SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION WITH LOW-CARBON LOGISTICS, DIGITAL INNOVATION
Read Time:2 Minute, 52 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
Dangote Cement Plc has reaffirmed its leadership in promoting sustainability across Sub-Saharan Africa’s cement value chain, with its Group Managing Director, Mr. Arvind Pathak, outlining the company’s ambitious low-carbon and digital transformation agenda at the 14th Africa CemTrade Summit in Accra.
Speaking on the theme “Sustainable Innovation in the Sub-Saharan Africa Cement Distribution Value Chain,” Pathak emphasized that sustainability remains at the core of Dangote Cement’s business model integrating profitability with environmental responsibility and social impact.
“Sustainability has never been an afterthought for us; it is central to how we grow, innovate, and operate,” Pathak said. “For Africa’s industrial future to remain viable, sustainability must make economic sense.”
Over the last two decades, Dangote Cement has evolved from a local producer into a continental leader, operating in 11 countries with an installed production capacity of 55 million tonnes per annum. Beyond its size, the company’s focus has shifted toward lower-carbon operations to support Africa’s sustainable industrialisation.
Pathak revealed that since 2021, Dangote Cement has co-processed over 1.5 million tonnes of alternative fuels, converting industrial, agricultural, and municipal waste into energy. This initiative forms part of its broader decarbonisation strategy, which aims to cut carbon emissions by 20% by 2030.
With 15 alternative fuel systems already deployed across its plants, including those in Senegal, Zambia, and South Africa, the company has achieved up to 40% thermal substitution in some operations.
A key pillar of its green transition is the adoption of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered logistics. Dangote Cement now operates over 3,000 CNG-powered trucks and 1,000 dual-fuel vehicles, reducing emissions and transport costs while enhancing fuel efficiency.
“We are proving that economic performance and climate responsibility can move together,” Pathak stated. “Our goal is to transition to a fully CNG-powered fleet in Nigeria by 2026, cutting carbon emissions per energy unit by nearly 29%.”
The company’s sustainability push is also strengthened by its digital transformation initiatives, which include a Distributor Management System (DMS), Transport Management System (TMS), and Electronic Proof of Delivery (e-POD) tools that enhance transparency, logistics efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
To date, Dangote Cement has mapped over 65,000 retail outlets across Nigeria and continues to expand regionally. Through its Customer Truck Empowerment Scheme (CTES), it has distributed over 4,000 trucks to transport partners, creating jobs and improving delivery reliability.
In 2024, the company invested ₦12.4 billion in community development projects across its host countries a fourfold increase from the previous year covering education, healthcare, infrastructure, and youth empowerment.
Pathak reiterated the importance of collaboration in achieving a low-carbon industrial future. Dangote Cement remains a founding member of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and a partner of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), supporting sustainable construction standards such as the Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) initiative.
Dangote Cement’s Deputy Head of Sustainability, Dr. Oyekemi Oyelola, highlighted that the company’s efforts have earned it a B+ CDP rating in 2024, underscoring its commitment to sustainable progress.“Our mission is to ensure that Dangote Cement leads the transformation to fill Africa’s infrastructure gap through resilient and greener building materials,” Dr. Oyelola said.
With its expanding low-carbon footprint, digital efficiency, and social impact investments, Dangote Cement continues to set the standard for responsible industrialisation and sustainable growth across Africa.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0