Dangote says new sugar project will cut imports by 40%
The management of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc on Monday said it will significantly reduce the importation of sugar into the country by 40 per cent and pave the way for the employment of over 30,000 youth.
A statement by the company quoted the president of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, to have said that the firm was embarking on Phase II of its sugar project, which will cover over 100,000 hectares to make the sugar plant, the largest in Africa.
Mr Dangote said the integrated sugar complex to be located in Tunga, Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, comprises 60,000ha sugar plantation and two sugar factories with the capacity to produce 430,000 tonnes of refined white sugar per annum.
“Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)’s shipping data revealed that Auarius Honor and Ocean Crown would be at Greenview Development Nigeria Limited (GDNL), a subsidiary of Dangote Group to offload 45,850 tonnes and 46,750 tonnes respectively,” the statement said.
“Following high demand in the food and drinks sector, GDNL took delivery of 187,000 tonnes from four vessels in May this year.
“At the terminal, Common Galaxy came with 48,800 tonnes; Bonny Island, 47,200 tonnes; Chayanee Naree, 46,000 tonnes, and Karteria Bluesrar, 45,000 tonnes. Also, in April, the terminal took delivery of 91,600 tonnes when Unity Bluestar offloaded 47,200 tonnes and Ecoatlantic, 44,400 tonnes.”
The statement said that NPA shipping showed that 67,000 tonnes of sugar were offloaded at ENL Consortium and GDNL, adding that the ENL terminal took delivery of 20,000 tonnes from Doro, while Baltic Mantis discharged 47,000 tonnes at GDNL.
It added that Genco Picardy arrived with 46,500 tonnes in February, while two vessels offloaded 101,422 tonnes in January, stressing that Desert Calm berthed with 55,352 tonnes and Pauline, 46,070 tonnes. Finding from Index Mundi, a trade portal revealed that the country has already imported 965,000 metric tonnes of raw this year.
The statement said the country imported $1.82 billion beet sugar, sugar syrups, and other sugar confectionery in the last two years.
