The management of the United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited (UniCem) has announced that it has concluded plans for President Goodluck Jonathan to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the company’s N84 billion additional 2.5 metric tonnes cement production line.
Unicem, which prides itself as the third largest producers of cement in Nigeria said the ground breaking ceremony will be performed on Tuesday, September 2 at Mfamosing, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, where the additional production line will be located. The Managing Director of the Company, Mr. Olivier Lenoir, who made the announcement through a statement made available to journalists in Calabar at the weekend, said “this historic event which will consolidate our position as Nigeria’s third largest cement producer will be performed by the President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.”
Lenoir further stated that “UniCem is the leading manufacturer and supplier of cement in the South-south and South-east of Nigeria. The company’s product portfolio currently includes ‘UniCem CEM II 32,5R’ and ‘UniCem CEM II 42,5N’. UniCem’s products are designed to serve diverse range of customers, from block moulders, home owners, builders and construction companies involved in small to mega and specialised projects. UniCem operates a state- of –the- art 2.5 million tonnes installed capacity plant at Mfamosing, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, with an additional 2.5 million tonnes capacity line planned to commence production by 2016.
“The company is committed to corporate social responsibility, safety and the environment and has numerous initiatives for which it has received multiple recognitions at regional and national levels.”
Construction of the first 2.5 million tonnes per annum Greenfield cement plant at Mfamosing, which cost about N46.2 billion to complete started in May , 2005 and at completion it was inaugurated for production on May 12, 2009.
UniCem, producers of UniCem Portland Cement, evolved from Calabar Cement Company, Nigeria (CALCEMCO), which it acquired when the Cross River State Government, during the administration of Governor Doland Duke, privatised the ailing company that was established in the 1960’s.
Having mothballed the old grinding station in Calabar by July 31, 2009 Unicem concentrated on the new 2.5m tons per annum green field plant at Mfamosing.
The management of UniCem said that first production line at Mfamosing currently operates at a much lower operating cost than the old grinding line in Calabar; and has excess grinding capacity in addition to producing cement from materials mined at site
