Dangote Cement Plc has again reinforced its leadership in sustainable industrial transformation across Sub-Saharan Africa, with Group Managing Director, Arvind Pathak, outlining the company’s continued commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and inclusive growth.
Speaking at the 14th Africa CemTrade Summit in Accra, Ghana, themed “Sustainable Innovation in the Sub-Saharan Africa Cement Distribution Value Chain,” Pathak said sustainability sits at the heart of Dangote Cement’s business model, shaping every aspect of its production, logistics, and operational strategy.
“Sustainability has never been an afterthought for us; it is central to how we grow, innovate, and operate,” Pathak stated. “For Africa’s industrial future to remain viable, sustainability must make economic sense. Our strategy ensures profitability while protecting the planet and creating decent jobs for our people.”
Over the last two decades, Dangote Cement has evolved from a domestic player into Africa’s largest cement producer, with operations in 11 countries and an installed capacity of 55 million tonnes per annum. However, Pathak noted that the company’s distinction lies not only in its scale but in its shift toward low-carbon operations, aligning growth with Africa’s sustainable industrialisation goals.
Since 2021, the company has co-processed over 1.5 million tonnes of alternative fuels, converting industrial, agricultural, and municipal waste into energy sources. This initiative forms part of Dangote Cement’s decarbonisation roadmap, targeting a 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 through energy-efficient technologies, nature-based carbon offsets, and waste-to-energy systems.
“We recognised early that sustainability would define the future of manufacturing,” Pathak said. “Our investments in process optimisation, cleaner fuels, and advanced energy systems reduce waste, improve efficiency, and strengthen competitiveness.”
The company has already deployed 15 alternative fuel systems across its plants, achieving up to 40 percent thermal substitution in countries including Senegal, Zambia, and South Africa.
A key milestone in its green transition is Dangote Cement’s investment in compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered logistics. With over 3,000 CNG-powered trucks and 1,000 dual-fuel vehicles already operating, the firm has significantly lowered transport emissions and costs.
“We are proving that economic performance and climate responsibility can move together. Our goal is to transition to a fully CNG-powered fleet in Nigeria by 2026, cutting carbon emissions per unit of energy consumed by nearly 29 percent,” Pathak said.
As part of its digital transformation, Dangote Cement has introduced tools such as the Distributor Management System (DMS), Transport Management System (TMS), and Electronic Proof of Delivery (e-POD) — all designed to enhance supply chain transparency, route optimisation, and operational efficiency. The company has also mapped more than 65,000 retail outlets in Nigeria and continues to expand its digital reach across regional markets.
Through its Customer Truck Empowerment Scheme (CTES), Dangote Cement has distributed over 4,000 trucks to logistics partners, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs while improving distribution reliability.
The company’s social investments also reflect its long-term sustainability focus. In 2024, Dangote Cement committed ₦12.4 billion to community development projects — a fourfold increase from the previous year — funding education, healthcare, infrastructure, and youth empowerment across its host communities.
Reinforcing the company’s position as a regional sustainability champion, Pathak stressed the importance of collaboration in advancing low-carbon industrialisation. Dangote Cement is a founding member of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and a partner of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), actively supporting the Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) initiative to promote low-carbon building materials.
Dr. Oyekemi Oyelola, the company’s Deputy Head of Sustainability, highlighted that Dangote Cement’s B+ CDP rating in 2024 reflects measurable progress in integrating sustainability across its value chain.
“Our mission is to ensure that Dangote Cement leads the transformation to fill Africa’s infrastructure gap by providing resilient building materials and supporting a greener future,” Oyelola said.
Okay News reports that Dangote Cement’s approach continues to position it not only as a market leader but as a pioneer in sustainable industrialisation, demonstrating that economic growth and environmental stewardship can advance together across Africa’s construction sector.
