Barely six months after commissioning its 1.5m metric ton per annum Kalambaina Cement Plant in Sokoto, BUA Cement, on Thursday said it has completed construction of its newest plant– the 3m MTPA Obu II Cement plant, Okpella in Edo State.
A date is to be announced soon for commissioning of the new plant, which the group said in a statement, raises total capacity of BUA Obu cement operations to six million tones, moving the group’s installed capacity to eight million MTPA, when it fully becomes operational in December.
Also, the statement said the new plant has capacity to run on multi-fuels: both gas and heavy oils, and will give BUA Cement a stronger foothold in the South-South and South East markets in Nigeria where it has become the preferred brand of cement.
By virtue of its location in Okpella, Edo State, BUA Obu Cement plants are five hours away from all the major markets across Nigeria.
BUA Group had last year said it built a 50km pipeline to carry gas to fire its gas turbines at its Obu Cement Plant.
Speaking at a business forum recently, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder and Executive Chairman of BUA Group – owners of BUA Cement, said completion of the new line puts BUA Cement in prime position to be Nigeria’s second largest cement producers by volume in a short while.
“Through a strategic combination of BUA Cement’s newer, more energy efficient plants and the proximity of our factory locations to key regional markets across Nigeria, BUA Cement has in no time become the industry leader in capacity utilization as well as maintaining a strong presence and brand leadership position in regional markets where it operates.
The nature of the formulation of BUA Cement’s products and the product strength, he continued, has seen it dubbed, “King of Strength” by blockmakers and others in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Continuing, the statement said BUA Cement has also entered into a partnership with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and Industrial Training Fund to train thousands of blockmakers across Nigeria on the proper mix and techniques for blockmaking to reduce the rates of building collapse in Nigeria.