Dangote Cement Targets 20% Emissions Cut, 80m Tonnes Capacity by 2030

Sunday Ehigiator

Dangote Cement Plc has unveiled a sustainability roadmap aimed at reducing its carbon emissions by 20 per cent and expanding its installed production capacity to 80 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by 2030, as the company intensifies efforts to align industrial growth with environmental sustainability across Africa.

The plans were announced at the company’s 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, where Chairman, Emmanuel Ikazoboh, presented the 2025 Sustainability Scorecard to shareholders and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to embedding environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles at the core of its operations in line with Dangote Industries Limited’s Vision 2030.

Ikazoboh said sustainability had evolved from a compliance obligation into a central business strategy designed to drive growth, resilience and long-term value creation.

As part of its decarbonisation agenda, the company disclosed that it approved plans in 2024 to reduce its net carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions intensity by 20 per cent while accelerating the transition to cleaner transportation.

He said, “By 2027, all fleet trucks operating in Nigeria, except at the Gboko plant, will run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), with electric trucks scheduled for introduction in 2026.”
The company also announced plans to strengthen its position as Africa’s leading cement exporter through expanded port infrastructure at Apapa, Onne, and Lekki, alongside capacity expansion projects that will raise installed production capacity to 80 million MTPA by 2030, including new operations in Botswana and Zimbabwe.

According to the company, the expansion forms part of Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 to build a globally competitive industrial enterprise driven by sustainability and innovation.
On human capital development, Dangote Cement said it created 625 direct green jobs across its operations while increasing social investment spending by 56 per cent during the review period.

Graduate trainee recruitment also rose by 74 per cent as part of efforts to develop Africa’s next generation of industrial professionals.
The company added that it invested N2.1 billion in employee training and development to strengthen workforce capacity and promote an inclusive, high-performance workplace.
Dangote Cement also reported progress in reducing its environmental footprint, recording a 6.5 per cent reduction in CO₂ emissions intensity from its 2021 baseline.

Energy intensity improved by 1.7 per cent, overall energy consumption declined by four per cent, while water consumption fell by eight per cent.
The company attributed the improvements to increased use of alternative fuels, energy efficiency initiatives and lower clinker factor, describing them as critical elements of its long-term decarbonisation strategy.
In governance, the cement manufacturer said it strengthened its ESG framework by introducing an Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Policy, Biodiversity Policy and Disability Inclusion Policy, while integrating 297 local vendors into its ESG-focused supply chain programme.
Ikazoboh stated that sustainability governance within the company had matured significantly over the past decade through stronger executive accountability, climate risk oversight, and ESG performance management.
The company also highlighted progress under its DangCircular initiative, which promotes waste reduction, recycling and circular economy practices.
“The company co-processed more than 437,000 tonnes of waste as alternative fuel, reducing dependence on conventional fossil fuels while improving resource efficiency,” Ikazoboh said.
As part of its biodiversity strategy, Dangote Cement announced the launch of the Dangote Tree-to-Forest Programme across all its operational locations during the 2025 financial year.
The initiative aims to afforest 200 hectares of land in each country where the company operates over the next five years by planting 700 trees per hectare to support ecosystem restoration and climate resilience through carbon sequestration.
The company traced its sustainability journey to 2017 when it established the Dangote Seven Sustainability Pillars and began reporting in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.

It stated that subsequent initiatives, including executive ESG accountability systems, climate disclosure frameworks, biodiversity restoration projects, and sustainability policies, had integrated ESG considerations across all aspects of its operations.
Dangote Cement further disclosed that its climate governance efforts had improved its international ESG standing, earning a ‘B’ rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for climate and water security disclosures.

The company pledged to voluntarily adopt the IFRS Sustainability Standards before compliance becomes mandatory.
Speaking on the company’s long-term strategy, Ikazoboh said sustainability would remain the driving force behind Vision 2030.
He stated, “As we build Africa’s largest and most sustainable cement business, we are creating a platform for long-term growth, resilience and shareholder value. Our sustainability strategy is not separate from our business strategy; it is the foundation upon which we will achieve Vision 2030.

“We invite investors to join us as we expand our footprint, deepen our export leadership, and shape the future of sustainable industrialisation across Africa.”
He added that the company’s sustainability roadmap aligned industrial expansion with environmental stewardship, workforce development, governance excellence and natural capital protection, positioning Dangote Cement to deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders while supporting Africa’s infrastructure development and economic transformation.