Lafarge Africa Opens Bag Manufacturing Plant at Ewekoro Cement Plant
Lagos, Nigeria, Friday, May 5, 2023. As part of its commitment to continuously drive excellence and innovation in the manufacturing industry, leading innovative and sustainable building solutions company, Lafarge Africa Plc, has opened a state-of-the-art cement bag manufacturing plant at its Cement Plant at Ewekoro, Ogun State.
Utilizing the best technology that exists globally, the new bag manufacturing plant features cutting-edge and state-of-the-art machinery and equipment, is the first of its kind in the country, and allows Lafarge to reinforce availability and handle large-scale production of bags in a safe and efficient manner.
According to Khaled El Dokani, Country Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Africa Plc, the move comes as a great joint venture with one of the best bag suppliers in the country, implementing the top technology in bag facility and production.
“We are using the best technology that produces the most efficient and durable bag in Nigeria. It is a very great day for us at Lafarge Africa. I would like to extend my appreciation to the contractor, the suppliers, the community, and the employees of Lafarge Africa. I look forward to more and more success from this project.”
In the same vein, Vishant Dalamal, Managing Director, MDV Sacks Ltd., said: “I am proud to commission our new project today in partnership with Lafarge, this project is a significant milestone for Lafarge. We have brought in the latest technology and equipment to provide the best quality and service of bags and I look forward to partnering more with Lafarge.”
In addition to a well-equipped plant with cutting-edge technology, a team of experienced engineers and technicians work tirelessly to ensure that the plant is operational at full capacity and the bags are produced to meet the highest standards of quality and reliability.
With an installed capacity of 8.8 million bags a month and 105 million to be produced yearly, every aspect of the manufacturing process is carefully planned and executed, from the raw materials to the finished products.
The company has adopted a climate-responsible approach by reducing the CO2 emissions both in the bag manufacturing and distribution process and carefully addressed environmental concerns with plans in place to recycle bags and promote a circular economy model.
“Guaranteeing the supply assurance for the bag is the first critical element and very important value for Holcim is the sustainability element. This would provide sustainability, such that we are delivering to the final consumer, a very sustainable product that is green, hence we are not only taking care of the consumers today, but we are also taking care of the generations yet unborn,” says Saeed Ande, Procurement Director, Lafarge Africa Plc.
“This is a new technology which MDV has installed and what that means is that we can have reduced wastages and then we can have good quality in terms of reducing the number of burst bags we have on the line.”
Aside from enhancing the company’s manufacturing capacity to meet the increasing demand for quality and safe cement bags, Lafarge’s new state-of-the-art bag manufacturing facility will contribute to already established efforts to improve livelihood and create job opportunities, especially for the Ewekoro and adjoining communities. Currently, 254 persons out of which 60% are from the community have been employed directly and 184 people have been provided indirect jobs from the supply of building materials and logistics rentals to labour work.
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About Lafarge Africa Plc
Lafarge Africa Plc, a leading Sub-Saharan Africa building solutions company is a member of Holcim Limited, a world leader in building solutions accelerating our world’s green transformation. Listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Lafarge Africa is actively participating in the urbanization and economic growth of Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa.
Lafarge Africa has the widest footprint in Nigeria with cement operations in the South West (Ewekoro and Sagamu in Ogun State), North East (Ashaka, in Gombe State), South East (Mfamosing, Cross Rivers State) with Ready-Mix operations in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. Lafarge Africa has a current installed cement production capacity of 10.5Mtpa.
Lafarge Africa leverages on its innovative expertise to provide value-added products and services solutions in the building and construction industry in Nigeria. Additional information is available on the website at www.lafarge.com.ng
About Holcim
Holcim builds progress for people and the planet. As a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, Holcim is enabling greener cities, smarter infrastructure and improving living standards around the world. With sustainability at the core of its strategy Holcim is becoming a net zero company, with its people and communities at the heart of its success. The company is driving the circular economy as a world leader in recycling to build more with less. Holcim is the company behind some of the world’s most trusted brands in the building sector including ACC, Aggregate Industries, Ambuja Cement, Disensa, Firestone Building Products, Geocycle, Holcim and Lafarge. Holcim is 70,000 people around the world who are passionate about building progress for people and the planet through four business segments: Cement, Ready-Mix Concrete, Aggregates and Solutions & Products.
More information is available on www.holcim.com
CONTACT
Ginikanwa Frank-Durugbor
Head, Corporate Communications
Ginikanwa.frank-durugbor@lafarge.com
