First Dangote Douala Cement in May 2014

Work is quite advanced on the site at the Base Elf neigbourhood in the economic capital, Douala.

All things being equal, the first cement from the multi-billion Dangote Cement Plant under construction in Douala will be out in May 2014. The General Manager of Dangote Cement Cameroon S.A., Nigerian-born, Adullali Baba, told Cameroon Tribune Monday November 11 that they are working round the clock to realize the dream.

And at the plant's site at the Base Elf neigbourhood, heavy-duty machines and staff are working tooth and nail to get the plant off the ground. Just from observation, the plant is fast taking shape with noticeable changes every day. Proof that work is at high gear.

According to the General Manager, "Engineering is almost 100 per cent done, procurement about 90 per cent, construction we have attained about 60 per cent and hope that by April or May 2014, we should be in the market." Although the Dangote Cement Cameroon S.A. is yet to recruit huge personnel of its own (only about 20 are there now), the construction site is jammed to capacity by personnel of the contractor.

"We also have a robust employment programme. The company is going to recruit about 240 persons of which at least 220 will be Cameroonians. This is for direct employment. Of course indirect employment will take thousands. Most of the staff on the site now are employed by our contractors," the GM Adullali Baba said.

The General Manager, like other staff, said although work is intensifying now, the beginning was rugged. "Initially when we came, we didn't have a complete understanding of the soil and by the time we finished investigation, we discovered that the soil condition was so poor and we had to sink in at least 8,500 piles. The entire structure is standing on piles. Apart from that, we had problems with the weather. The heavy rains affected our production. By and large, we have overcome all those and we have come out of the ground and the rains are no longer basically a problem for us," the GM sounded upbeat.