Nigeria’s leading cement producer, Dangote Cement Plc, has taken a bold step in its sustainability journey, announcing plans to convert the entirety of its haulage fleet to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by 2026.
The initiative, revealed at the Africa CemTrade Summit in Accra, Ghana, targets a 29 percent reduction in carbon emissions, a landmark goal for the firm and an indicator of its commitment to low-carbon industrialisation.
Green logistics and cleaner operations
Speaking at the summit under the theme “Sustainable Innovation in the Sub-Saharan Africa Cement Distribution Value Chain”, Group Managing Director Arvind Pathak shared that Dangote Cement has already converted more than 3,000 trucks to CNG and deployed 1,000 dual-fuel vehicles as part of the transition. These changes are part of the company’s wider energy diversification strategy, which includes co-processing over 1.5 million tonnes of alternative fuels over the last four years, thus lowering its reliance on traditional fossil fuels.
Moreover, since 2021 the company has rolled out 15 alternative fuel systems across plants in Senegal, Zambia and South Africa, achieving up to 40 % thermal substitution. The logistics shift forms a complementary piece of this broader operational pivot.
Technology, data and industrial transformation
Pathak emphasised that beyond the fleet conversion, Dangote Cement is harnessing digital tools, such as a Distributor Management System (DMS), Transport Management System (TMS) and Electronic Proof of Delivery (e-POD), to optimize routing, enhance transparency in the supply chain, and improve asset utilisation.
At an installed capacity of 55 million tonnes per annum across 11 African countries, Dangote Cement is leveraging scale to drive sustainability and profitability in tandem.
A benchmark for Africa’s industrial future
Oyelola Oyekemi, Deputy Head of Sustainability at Dangote Cement, noted that the company’s model demonstrates how industrial growth and environmental stewardship can coexist.
“We see a future where Africa’s cement industry becomes a benchmark for sustainable industrialisation globally. Our mission is to ensure that Dangote Cement leads that transformation, driving innovation, creating value and helping Africa build not only stronger structures but a stronger, greener future.”
The announcement arrives at a time when Africa’s manufacturing sector is under pressure to adopt greener operations and digital technologies. Dangote Cement’s commitment to a fully CNG-powered fleet and advanced logistics systems signals both ambition and tangible progress.
The road ahead
With the 2026 target in view, stakeholders will monitor how effectively Dangote Cement executes this transformation, particularly across its country operations where logistics, infrastructure and regulatory environments vary.
The transition will require investment in CNG infrastructure, driver retraining, and close coordination with transport and energy regulators.
Ultimately, the cement giant’s initiative may serve as a blueprint for other heavy-industry players in Africa looking to align growth with climate goals.
As it moves to reduce emissions and deploy advanced digital logistics, Dangote Cement appears poised to shape not just the built environment, but sustainability standards for the continent.
