Dangote Sugar Plans $700m Fresh Investment To Expand Plantation, Improve Output To 150, 000tcd

Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR) plans to inject fresh $700 million into the Backward Integration Programme (BIP) to provide the required infrastructure for an expansion of the business. 

 

This is to expand its Numan sugar refining capacity from 3,000 tonnes of cane per day (tcd) to 6,000 tcd, 9,800 tcd and to 15,000 tcd in the efforts to significantly scale up its output. 

 

The new investment will also be applied to grow its sugar plantation from the current  8,700 hectares in 2022 to about 24,200 hectares within the next 7 years in addition to doubling its scholarship and empowerment schemes in its host communities. 

 

The company plans this in compliance with the requirement of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) according to the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote

He said: “We are thus committing over $700 million to our investment in the Backward Integration Programme (BIP) to enable us to put in place needed infrastructure for the eventual commencement of full-scale production.”  

 

Dangote spoke at the Flag off ceremony of the 2022/2023 Crushing Season and Outgrower Scheme Awards in Numan, Adamawa State where he noted that increasing the sugar refining capacity requires a corresponding increase in sugarcane production capacity.

 

“We will continue to introduce more initiatives to support our host communities. Through these initiatives and our numerous Corporate Social Responsibility activities, DSR Numan will be able to touch the lives of the people, bringing social, economic, and infrastructural development to our host communities.” 

 

 

Dangote further assured that Dangote Sugar will change the trajectory by making Nigeria self-sufficient in the sector.  

 

Already, the company, he noted, has spent billions of naira in developing infrastructural facilities for host communities. 

 

Speaking also at the event, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo described the Dangote Sugar Refinery as the biggest contributor to the sugar development stride of the Federal Government.  

 

The Minister also commended Aliko Dangote and the Management staff of Dangote Sugar for their massive support through the company’s corporate social responsibility scheme, which he said should be highly commended.   

 

He said agencies under his ministry will partner with the company to provide the technical know-how that will support the Dangote empowerment schemes in the host communities.  

 

In the same vein, Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri who was represented by his Deputy Crowther Seth said he was amazed by the social-economic transformation carried out by the Dangote Group, adding that it is monumental. He assured the company of the support of the state government and enjoined other corporate bodies to imbibe Dangote’s spirit of job creation across the country.

 

Aliko Dangote further announced a Free Education boon for all the students of Dangote Sugar Refinery High School, among other scholarship winners announced.   

 

The overall best Outgrower farmer, Christiana Rufus thanked the company and promised not to relent in her effort. 

Six farmers, mostly women emerged as the overall best farmers in the contest and were given various attractive prizes.