Nigeria | Cement industry in Africa
The Cement industry in Africa is breaking new boundaries in Nigeria, Tanzania and now Ethiopia. With Aliko Dangote – the richest man in Africa – paving the way (pun intended) for Africa’s Cement Industry, we are destined to see new grounds being broken as he pushes for million dollar deals for production in West and East Africa.
What is Cement?
Cement is a substance that sets and hardens and can bind other materials together. Cement is made from crushed rock with burnt lime as binder. Usually in powder form, cement acts as a binding agent when mixed with water and aggregates. This combination, or concrete mix, will be poured and harden into the durable material with which we are all familiar.
Cement vs Concrete:
,Did you know that Cement and concrete and are not the same thing?
Cement is a component of concrete and comes in a powder form, made of limestone and other minerals, which absorbs water and acts as a binder.
Concrete is made up of three basic components: 1). Water 2). Aggregate (rock, sand, or gravel) and 3). Portland cement
The strength and durability of concrete makes ,it one of the most useful materials developed by man!
How is Cement Cured?
Cement is manufactured through a closely controlled chemical combination of calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron and other ingredients. It sets (or cures) when mixed with water which causes a series of hydration chemical reactions. The constituents slowly hydrate and crystallize; the interlocking of the crystals gives cement its strength. Maintaining a high moisture content in cement during curing, increases both the speed of curing, and its final strength.
Common materials used to manufacture cement include limestone, shells, and chalk or marl combined with shale, clay, slate, blast furnace slag, silica sand, and iron ore. These ingredients, when heated at high temperatures form a rock-like substance that is ground into the fine powder that we commonly think of as cement.
The time it takes for cement to cure varies depending on the mixture and environmental conditions; initial hardening can occur in as little as twenty minutes, while full cure can take over a month. Cement typically cures to the extent that it can be put into service within 24 hours to a week.
What is Cement used for?
The most important uses of cement are as a component in the production of mortar in masonry, and of concrete, a combination of cement and an aggregate to form a strong building material.
Different kinds of Cement used in Building and Construction
Depending on the ability of cement to be used in the presence of water, cements can be characterized as either being hydraulic cement or non-hydraulic cement:
Hydraulic Cement is made by replacing some of the cement in a mix with activated aluminium silicates, pozzolanas, such as fly ash. The chemical reaction results in hydrates that are not water-soluble and thus quite durable in water and safe from chemical attack. This allows setting in wet condition or underwater and further protects the hardened material from chemical attack.
- Non-hydraulic Cement will not set in wet conditions or underwater. It hardens as it dries or reacts with carbon dioxide, which is naturally found in the air. It can be attacked by some aggressive chemicals after setting.
Cement Markets in Africa AngolaEgyptMalawiSenegalBeninEritreaMaliSierra LeoneBurundiEquatorial GuineaMauritaniaSouth AfricaBotswanaEthiopiaMauritiusSudanBurkina FasoGabonMoroccoTanzaniaCameroonGhanaMozambiqueTogoCARGuineaNamibiaTunisiaCongo BrazzavilleKenyaNigerUgandaCongo KinshasaLiberiaNigeriaZambiaCôte d’IvoireLibyaRwandaZimbabweDjiboutiEgyptMalawi
,Interesting Facts about Cement
- Cement mixed with water, sand and gravel, forms concrete
- Cement mixed with water and sand, forms cement plaster
- Cement mixed with water, lime and sand, forms mortar
Current News | Africa’s Cement Industry | Aliko Dangote
The richest man in Africa – Aliko Dangote – is the CEO and Founder of Dangote Group, the largest industrial conglomerate in West Africa, based in Nigeria. One of the Group’s subsidiaries, Dangote Cement, is the largest cement production company in Africa!
Ventures in Africa that Aliko Dangote is pursuing:
New markets are continuously opening up in Africa and Aliko Dangote, being the successful business man that he is, knows which country in Africa are worthy of investing in. Here are a few of his latest investment opportunities for Dangote Group in Africa:
- Oil & Gas: ,,Dangote and Saipem to form a JV
- Premier League Soccer – ,,Aliko Dangote wants to buy Arsenal
- Cement Production in Tanzania: ,,Industry: Nigeria’s Dangote Cement to start production in Tanzania
Read some of the articles below for further insight into the Cement Industry in Africa
We have a few Job Opportunities in the Cement Industry, which I will be publishing tomorrow.
In the meantime, have a look on our Africa Jobs Board for the current available Jobs in Africa.
Here’s the link for you: ,Jobs in Africa
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