Dangote Cement Deepens African Growth Strategy with $1 Billion Sinoma Framework Agreement
Dangote Cement and Sinoma Sign
Dangote Cement, a key subsidiary of the Dangote Industries Limited, has signed a landmark $1 billion strategic agreement with Sinoma International Engineering to construct multiple new cement production facilities and expand existing assets across Africa. The deal, reportedly signed during a ceremony in Lagos this past weekend, is a major step in the company’s long-term expansion strategy and aligns with its Vision 2030 industrial growth plan.
Under the Strategic Framework Agreement, Sinoma will spearhead the delivery of 12 new projects and brownfield expansions, encompassing greenfield plants, grinding units and modernisation initiatives across several African markets.
Ambitious Expansion Across Africa
The agreement outlines capacity enhancement and new plant deployment plans in key regions. In Nigeria, projects under the partnership include new integrated production lines and satellite grinding units in major hubs such as Itori, Apapa, Lekki, Port Harcourt and Onne. Beyond Nigeria, the framework extends to countries including Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Cameroon, each identified as strategic locations for deepening production footprint and market access.
This expanded portfolio of projects is designed to increase production capacity significantly across Dangote Cement’s operating network and bolster exports to regional markets experiencing rapid demand growth for construction materials.
Strategic Rationale and Market Impact
The $1 billion agreement emphasises several strategic priorities for Dangote Cement:
Capacity Growth: The initiative advances the company’s ambition to enhance its aggregate cement production across Africa — a critical factor as demand continues to accelerate with urbanisation and infrastructure investment.
Export Strengthening: With new capacity and modernised facilities, Dangote Cement is positioned to optimise export operations into West African and Southern African markets, improving supply reliability and competitiveness.
Operational Efficiency: Upgrading existing assets and deploying modern production lines contributes to improved energy efficiency, cost management and quality standards across the company’s pan-African footprint.
At the signing event, Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, said the agreement with Sinoma reinforces the company’s commitment to continental industrial leadership, while supporting its overarching target of growing production capacity to around 80 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and generating $100 billion in revenue by 2030.
Engineering Partner: Sinoma International Engineering
Sinoma International Engineering, a global engineering and construction firm with deep experience in cement plant design and execution, will oversee project delivery across the portfolio. The firm’s role will encompass construction of new greenfield facilities, optimised expansions and modernisation of existing infrastructure to meet contemporary standards of productivity and sustainability.
The collaboration reflects a continuation of longstanding technical partnerships between Dangote companies and Chinese engineering firms, underscoring integration of global expertise in African industrial development.
Regional Development and Economic Implications
For several African economies targeted by the agreement, the projects are expected to bring significant local economic benefits, including job creation, enhanced value chains and strengthened industrial ecosystems. Cement production anchors related sectors such as logistics, construction and manufacturing, potentially fostering broader economic multiplier effects where plants are established.
Analysts also note that expanding regional production capacity can help reduce import dependency in countries with burgeoning construction markets, supporting domestic manufacturing self-sufficiency and stabilising local material prices over time.
Cement Sector Trajectory in Africa
The $1 billion Dangote-Sinoma agreement marks a pivotal expansion phase for cement production in Africa, coupling industrial ambition with strategic infrastructure investment. For policymakers, investors and construction sector stakeholders, the initiative signals confidence in the continent’s long-term growth trajectory and highlights manufacturing’s role in underpinning urbanisation and development agendas.
By enhancing production capacity, reinforcing export channels and activating value chains across multiple countries, the pact positions Dangote Cement to remain a central player in Africa’s industrial landscape well into the next decade.
