Ashaka Cement (Ashakacem), a subsidiary of Lafarge WAPCO Plc, has unveiled plans to increase production capacity from one million to 1.3mn metric tonnes. The company’s new Chairman, Umaru Kwairanga said during a media chart with the media recently that the increased capacity would enabled the company to remain the leading cement manufacturer in the northern part of the country. He added that it would further increase the Lafarge’s group production capacity, which is presently standing at 8mn metric tonnes. Kwairanga stated: “With the support we are getting from Lafarge, we believe we will be able to achieve our plans. We are the only cement company using coal. We want to maintain our market share, which is about five per cent. Our target is to increase our production capacity from 1mn tonnes to 1.3mn tonnes. “Our desire is to ensure that we remain the leading cement manufacturing company in the northern part of the country”. He said that the company would ensure that the shareholders are not disappointed by its operations. “We are going to build Ashakacem to the satisfaction of all stakeholders”, he added. Kwairanga noted that Nigeria was close to ending its cement importation with the commissioning of Lafarge Ewekoro II and the proposed increased capacity by Ashakacem. “Self-sufficiency in cement production is possible in Nigeria. The government is doing its best to provide a conducive environment for manufacturers”, he said. He said the company would complement government policy of self-sufficiency in cement production to meet the nation’s market demand by investing more in boosting production capacity. Speaking also, the Lafarge’s Country Manager, Nigeria & Benin Republic, Jean-Christophe Barbant, said that Lafarge will continue to invest in Ashakacem. According to him, Ashakacem is the only cement plant producing coal and supplies the product to all the northern states. Lafarge, with operations in Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc (South-West Nigeria), Ashaka Cement (North) and Atlas Cement, Port Harcourt (South-South), also has a stake in Unicem Plant at Calabar. With the additional 2.5 MT capacity from the Ewekoro II site for 350mn euros, and a new milestone in its capacity expansion, the company’s activities in Nigeria will reach 8mn ton production capacity in 2012: 4.5mn MT in WAPCO, Ogun State, 1mn MT annually in Ashaka, Gombe, 2.5mn MT annually in Unicem, Calabar, 0.5mn MT annually in Atlas, One terminal. As part of its efforts to enhance cement production in the country, Lafarge acquired additional shareholding in Ashaka Cement by increasing its stake in the company from 50.16 percent to approximately 58.6 percent. Ashakacem Plc, a subsidiary of Lafarge Group, is located in Gombe State. With a yearly cement capacity of one million tonnes, the company has been serving its customers through superior quality cement for last three decades. Its key markets are in North Nigeria though it products reaches Abuja and other central markets. With 653 employees, Ashakacem is the only cement producer in Nigeria, which uses coal as a fuel, through its captive coal mines.