Dangote Cement Targets 20% Emission Cut, 80MTPA Capacity By 2030

Dangote Cement Plc has unveiled a new sustainability scorecard targeting a 20 per cent reduction in net carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions intensity and an expansion of installed capacity to 80 million tonnes per annum by 2030.

Presenting the company’s 2025 Sustainability scorecard at its 17th Annual General Meeting in Lagos, chairman of Dangote Cement, Mr Emmanuel Ikazoboh, highlighted how sustainability has evolved in the Company from a compliance requirement into a core business strategy that supports growth, resilience and long-term value creation across Africa.

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

“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,” he stated.

The Cement giant also announced plans to strengthen its position as Africa’s leading cement exporter through expanded port infrastructure at Apapa, Onne and Lekki, while pursuing capacity expansion programmes that will increase installed production capacity to 80 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by 2030, including new footprints in Botswana and Zimbabwe.

These initiatives support the Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 ambition to build a globally competitive industrial powerhouse rooted in sustainability and innovation.

On its People-centred growth sustainability drive, Dangote Cement reported significant progress in human capital development and social impact, creating 625 direct green jobs across its operations while increasing social investment spending by 56 per cent. Graduate trainee recruitment also rose by 74 per cent, underscoring the company’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of African industrial talent.

Supporting this commitment, the Company said it invested N2.1 billion in employee training and development, reinforcing its ambition to become the employer of choice across its operating countries by fostering a high-performance and inclusive workplace culture.

On Climate action, the company reported, “measurable progress in reducing its environmental footprint, achieving a 6.5 per cent reduction in CO₂ emissions intensity from its 2021 baseline. Energy efficiency also improved, with energy intensity reduced by 1.7 per cent and overall energy consumption declining by 4 per cent. Water consumption fell by 8 per cent during the period under review.”

In the governance space, Dangote Cement stated that it enhanced its ESG risk management framework by onboarding an Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Policy, a Biodiversity policy, and a Disability Inclusion policy, and by integrating 297 local vendors into its ESG-focused supply chain programme.

Amid excitement among shareholders, Ikazoboh noted that sustainability governance has matured significantly over the past decade, with executive accountability mechanisms, climate risk oversight, and ESG performance management now firmly embedded in operational and strategic decision-making processes.

He also spoke on circular economy and biodiversity, during which he highlighted major achievements in resource stewardship and environmental conservation.

According to him, Dangote Cement has intensified the expansion of its DangCircular initiative, which promotes waste reduction, recycling and circular economy practices across its operations.

“The company co-processed more than 437,000 tonnes of waste as alternative fuel, reducing dependence on conventional fossil fuels while improving resource efficiency.”

Reflecting on the company’s sustainability evolution, Dangote Cement traced its journey to 2017 when it established the Dangote Seven Sustainability Pillars and began reporting in line with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.

Since then, the company has introduced sustainability champions programmes, executive ESG accountability systems, climate disclosure frameworks, alternative fuel projects, biodiversity restoration initiatives and enterprise-wide sustainability policies that have progressively integrated ESG considerations into every aspect of the business.

According to the company, sustainability creates strategic value by ensuring that workforce development keeps pace with industrial growth, that climate objectives guide investment decisions, that governance strengthens enterprise resilience, and that natural capital protection supports long-term business continuity.