AFRICA: NIGERIA: Nigeria sets up Cement Technology Institute to boost production

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the setting up of the Cement Technology Institute (CTI) to assist the nation to optimize its cement production capacity and capability, through acquisition and development of appropriate technology that will make cement product adequately available as a low cost basic building material for the average Nigerian.

This was disclosed by the Hon. Minister of trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga while inaugurating the Board of Trustee (BOT) and the Project Implementation Team (PIT) for the Cement Technology Institute (CTI) at the Headquarters of the Ministry in Abuja. The Board is chaired by the Group President Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote while the Chairman, Project Implementation Team is Alhaji Lateef G. Salami, Director, Industrial Development department in the Ministry Inaugurating the Board, the Minister also pointed out that the Institute would also be the fulcrum for the positioning of Nigeria as a net exporter of cement with the capacity of meeting the needs of the ECOWAS sub-region.

The Institute is mandated to carry out research and development, technology adaptation and human capacity building in cement sub-sector of the economy. The objectivities of the Institute shall include:

(i) to train and enhance manpower in cement technology and related fields, especially at the middle management level;
(ii) to undertake research and development in the areas of:
(a)Suitable alternative technologies in cement manufacturing;
(b)Utilization of local raw materials for cement manufacturing and building;
(c)Utilization of industrial by-products e.g. slag, fly ash and agro-wastes for cement manufacturing;
(d)Development of various types of cement high alumina cement, low-heat cement, etc.
(e)Capacity to use mineral admixtures that will prolong life span of the raw materials;
(f)Cleaner and environment friendly production processes and waste management in the cement industry;
(g) Energy conservation;
(h)Developing and establishing prototype mini-cement plant;
(i)Utilization of locally manufactured components and parts for the cement industry;
(iii) to maintain data bank for cement and cement related industries.
(iv) liaise with other research Institutes with a view to tapping their full potentials for enhancing cement technology development, as well as to harmonize the programmes of these Institutes in areas of common national interest;
(v) training of manpower for the cement industry, just like the Petroleum Institute, Warri is doing for Oil Industry;
(vi) possibilities of cement exports within a reasonable time thereby saving the huge foreign exchange currently being spent on cement importation.

(vii)Increase in local production of cement using improved technology provided by the Institute at a cheaper cost.

The CTI would be run and managed as Non- governmental Organization. The Board of Trustee with members drawn from government and major stakeholders in the cement Industry will principally manage the CTI fund, while the Project Implementation Team would undertake and execute the process of the implementation of the establishment of the CTI