Dangote Cement Targets 20% Carbon Cut by 2030
…Co-Processes 1.5 Million Tonnes of Waste
By Patience Ikpeme
Dangote Cement Plc has disclosed that it has co-processed over 1.5 million tonnes of alternative fuels in the last four years, a move aimed at significantly lowering its carbon footprint, improving energy security, and setting a benchmark for sustainable industrialization across Africa.
The disclosure was made by the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement, Mr. Arvind Pathak, while speaking at the Africa CemTrade Summit in Accra, Ghana, on the theme, “Sustainable Innovation in the Sub-Saharan Africa Cement Distribution Value Chain.”
Mr. Pathak stated that since 2021, when the Company began its energy diversification strategy, it has successfully deployed 15 alternative fuel systems across its plants. This effort has helped the company achieve up to 40 per cent thermal substitution in operations across plants in Sub-Saharan Africa, notably in Senegal, Zambia, and South Africa.
The initiative forms part of the company’s broader decarbonisation target, which seeks to cut carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2030 by converting industrial, agricultural, and municipal wastes into energy.
“Sustainability has never been an afterthought for us; it is central to how we grow, innovate, and operate,” Mr. Pathak stated. “Our strategy ensures profitability while protecting the planet.”
Mr. Pathak explained that central to its green transition programme is the heavy investment in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) logistics. The Company has acquired over 3,000 CNG trucks and 1,000 dual-fuel vehicles, which have been deployed to significantly reduce emissions and transport costs. The company’s goal is to have a fully CNG-powered fleet in Nigeria by 2026, targeting a 29 per cent reduction in carbon emissions per energy unit consumed.
Dangote Cement’s sustainability strategy is further supported by a digital transformation drive that has introduced systems such as the Distributor Management System (DMS), Transport Management System (TMS), and Electronic Proof of Delivery (e-POD). These systems enhance transparency, optimize routes, and improve supply chain efficiency.
The company has mapped more than 65,000 retail outlets in Nigeria and continues to expand across key regional trade corridors. Through its Customer Truck Empowerment Scheme (CTES), Dangote Cement has distributed over 4,000 trucks to transport partners, creating jobs and improving reliability in cement delivery.
The Group Managing Director noted that Dangote Cement continues to play an active role in global and regional partnerships for sustainable construction as a founding member of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and a partner of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) to promote low-carbon cement standards.
Mr. Pathak said: “We recognised early on that sustainability would shape the future of manufacturing. Our investments in process optimisation, cleaner fuels, and advanced energy systems are helping us reduce waste, improve efficiency, and build stronger competitiveness. We are proving that economic performance and climate responsibility can move together.”
In 2024 alone, the company invested over N12.4 billion in community development projects across its host countries, a fourfold increase from the previous year, covering education, healthcare, infrastructure, and youth empowerment.
Oyekemi Oyelola, Dangote Cement’s Deputy Head of Sustainability, confirmed that the company’s model demonstrates that industrial progress and environmental responsibility can coexist.
“We see a future where Africa’s cement industry becomes a benchmark for sustainable industrialization globally. Our mission is to ensure that Dangote Cement leads that transformation, driving innovation, creating value, and helping Africa build not only stronger structures but a stronger, greener future,” Ms. Oyelola said.
