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How to start cement production business in Nigeria.
Cement is a powdery substance made from limestone and used in concrete making. It is the bonding component for sand, gravel and water when building a concrete structure.
In a four-two-one standard concrete mix measurement, only about 7% of cement from a sack of 50kg or 110Ibs is enough to form a bond.
Currently, Dangote cement one of Nigeria’s most popular cement is selling at about N3500 about $15 in the country. There are also cement producers that are selling at slightly cheaper rates like BUA Cement and Lafarge Cement.
- Dangote Cement seeks debt funding options under N300bn bond issuance programme
- Dangote Refinery Set To Commence Operation In 2022
However, the increase in prices is raising debates about monopoly by cement production companies in Nigeria.
Cement production business is a profitable one in Nigeria and monopoly can change with the right ideas.
There is a need for intensive research and planning to begin a cement business in Nigeria so as to ensure the proper use of capital. This article can help with that.
How is cement made in Nigeria
Cement production is widely dependent on limestone. It involves a heating process of a specified blend of sand, powdery limestone, and clay in a rotating kiln at temperatures of 1500ºC.
This process produces cement clinker, an transitional stage of cement production.
For its final stage, the cement clinker is offloaded from the kiln and cooled and ground to produce into powder. The powder is what is sold as cement.
Below is a sum up of the process of making cement:
- Extraction of raw materials
- Grinding, milling and mixing
- Preheating of raw materials
- Heating raw materials to produce clinker
- Gypsum
- Cooling and crushing of clinker
Requirements for cement production in Nigeria now
Ingredients or raw materials for cement
- Limestone
- Clay
- Shale
- Silica
- Iron oxide
- Gypsum
Machines and tools to make cement
- Electricity
- Rotating Kiln
- Ball mill
- Crusher (jaw and cone crushers)
- Clinker cooler and dryer
- Feeder
Types of cement to choose from when starting a business in Nigeria
- Ordinary Portland Cement
- High Alumina Cement
- Blast Furnace Slag Cement
- Quick Setting Cement
- Sulfates Resisting Cement
- Low Heat Cement
- Extra Rapid Hardening Cement
- Rapid Hardening Cement
- Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)
- White Cement
- Coloured cement
- Air Entraining Cement
- Expansive cement
- Hydrographic cement
Ordinary Portland Cement, (OPC) is the most suitable cement for global concrete construction standard. It is also the most widely produced cement in Nigeria and globally.
OPC is readily the easiest choice of cement to pick from the list as it supports the creation of many things – from flower vases to sculptures.
Tons of cement sacks are consumed in Nigeria daily but this doesn’t make it an easy business to begin. Cement production is cost-intensive and the raw materials are not readily available.
It is also important to register with the Corporate Affairs Commision, CAC before beginning a cement business in Nigeria.
