Cement manufacturers are moving into hinterlands with the introduction of aggressive distribution network into remote areas in a bid to expand their market share.

The renewed aggression in the distribution of products is reflected in the brands’ delivery of their products directly to distributors in remote areas.

The manufacturers have also developed what is called cement distribution management, CDM, an en route diversion system, third party order that has resulted in easy delivery of products to the hinterlands.

Besides offering discounts, they are also offering other incentives such as mini trucks and additional credit for purchases, to drive profitability of distributors.

The brands competing for market dominance are Ibeto Cement, Enugu; Bua cement, Lagos; Eastern Bulkcem Company Limited, Lagos; Dangote Cement, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Limited.

The major contenders for top position are Supaset, produced by Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc; 3X Portland cement, manufactured by Dangote Group, relegating existing major shareholders in the areas to third class position.

Vanguard  Companies and Markets findings in four states, Lagos, Osun, Imo and Ogun states show that Dangote’s 3X and Lafarge’s Supaset were the major products used by construction engineers, block moulders and bricklayers.

A visit to construction sites in Lagos, Osun, Imo and Ogun states, showed that consumers have different reasons why they buy both products.

For example, at a construction site located along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in Lagos, majority of the contractors use the Dangote 3X, while some use the Lafarge Supaset.

Likewise, in Osun, especially at a construction site in Ede, the contractors are using Dangote Cement.

In Imo, the Dangote brand is creeping into the hinterlands where Elephant Cement earlier held sway, while in Ogun, Lafarge is topping the market, with remarkable in-roads being made by Dangote 3X.

Consumers speak

A contractor, Evans Ude, in charge of a building at Festac extension, Lagos, said “Dangote Cement has been a brand used mostly at construction sites because of the result they get from the product, especially now that it is raining. Lafarge is also good, may be the name behind the Dangote brand is responsible for volume of sale.”

A block moulder in Imo State, Ferguson Nwande said: “Dangote is making an incursion into the eastern market particularly in the hinterlands, it is pushing other brands to the second position.

The Dangote 3X cement gives faster setting and dries up faster; rain does not easily wash it off.

Anayo Okafor of Umudim village in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State. Another block moulder, Jimoh Olaoye, who plies his trade along Lagos-Badagry Expressway said he uses Dangote and Lafarge cement inter-changeably depending on situation call.

A civil Engineer, Jerome Iroka who is in charge of a site in Ede, Osun State said he prefers Dangote 3X Cement.

Analysing the performance of the cement brands, he said: “You know Lafarge has the Supaset cement.

The setting rate of Supaset is slower than that of Dangote. Dangote 3X sets faster than Lafarge’s Supaset. The use of the brands for me, depends on the weather condition of an area.

“During rainy season, I will prefer Dangote 3X cement because it sets faster and gets dried quickly when used for plastering.

“For Lafarge, it is slow at setting, when set, it gives you the value you need. The cement brands have what they can do better at different occasions. Both are good products.”

Distributors’ reaction

A distributor in Nkwere, Imo State and Director of Mazi and Brothers, Igwebuike Nnawuihe, said the number of Dangote 3X cement he has sold during this rainy season is voluminous. “I wondered what was happening. I was made to understand that it is as a result of recommendation by site engineers.

“Of the number of brands I have here, I think Dangote 3X is selling the highest.

For instance, today (October 4, 2018), I have sold 62 bags of Dangote cement. Lafarge’s Supaset – 41 bags and other brands are just minimal.”

Alhaji Ajose Inuwa of Anuoluwapo Ventures, Isasi Road, Iba Local Government confirmed that Dangote is doing well, but it is facing a lot of opposition from Lafarge Cement. “Go around Lagos, most of the cement bags you will see are the Dangote brand.

Source: Biz Watch Nigeria

Two dilapidated buildings next to those which collapsed in southern France were to be demolished Thursday, forcing rescue workers to call off their search after six bodies were pulled from the rubble.

Two people are thought to still be missing after two apartment buildings suddenly crumbled on Monday morning in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille.

A third building then collapsed later that day, slowing the search for survivors as rescue workers cautiously cleared the debris amid the risk that adjacent structures could fail as well.

Officials said late Wednesday they would have to destroy two more buildings at the site since they were no longer being supported by the adjacent structures.

Furious residents along the Rue d’Aubagne, many of whom have been evacuated from their homes, have accused city authorities of neglecting the safety risks at the derelict buildings despite years of complaints.

Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin, the target of much of the criticism, will hold a press conference at 11:00 am (1000 GMT) to give an update on the situation and brief residents on the city’s plans for rehabilitating thousands of neglected lodgements.

“Gaudin, Fructus, murderers!” a crowd of around 100 protestors yelled at the site on Wednesday evening, referring to the mayor’s deputy in charge of housing, Arlette Fructus.

‘Nobody cares’

It was unclear when the search would resume since the two adjacent buildings would have to be torn down “piece by piece,” the government’s top official in the region, Pierre Dartout, said late Wednesday.

Marseille prosecutor Xavier Tarabeux said it was not yet clear why how the two buildings, dating from the late 18th century, collapsed in a matter of seconds after a night of heavy rains.

But one of the buildings in Noailles, a working-class district just steps from the city’s bustling port, had already been condemned by city officials and boarded up for years.

Google Maps images taken in recent months showed large cracks in the facades of the buildings.

City officials said building experts inspected the occupied building on October 18 and shoring up work was then carried out before residents were allowed back in.

And Tarabeux said a resident in one of the apartments had called firemen the night before the disaster to warn that a crack in the wall had widened, only to call back later and say an intervention was not necessary.

The revelations further fanned the anger of residents, who say their complaints have been ignored for years.

“It’s only blacks and Arabs living here, so nobody cares,” said Adama, originally from the Comoro Islands.

“I pay rent — 380 euros ($430) a month — and I even pay a municipal housing tax. But you’ve seen the state of the buildings,” the young man said.

City authorities say they began a vast housing renovation plan for the city centre in 2011,

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has said 6,000 properties have been identified as “at risk” in the city, representing some 44,000 lodgings, mainly in lower-class neighbourhoods.

A 2015 government report said about 100,000 Marseille residents were living in housing that was dangerous to their health or security.

“It’s unthinkable that such things happen in our time,” said Christian Gouverneur, who owns a flat across the road from the disaster site.

In a separate incident on Wednesday, a building with three apartments collapsed in the centre of Charleville-Mezieres in northeast France, the very day President Emmanuel Macron held a cabinet meeting in the city as part of his tour of World War I sites this week.

No victims were reported, though some 50 people were evacuated from neighbouring buildings.

source: www.today.ng

The government of Zimbabwe is set to receive US $310m from the government of India for the construction of Hwange thermal plant.

Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, confirmed the reports, during a visit to Zimbabwe and said the funds will aim at enhancing the life cycle of the plant.

Also read:Zimbabwe, China seal US $1bn power deal

Hwange thermal plant project  

Hwange thermal power station, owned and operated by Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), a state-owned company contracted to generate, transmit and distribute electricity in Zimbabwe, has an installed capacity of 920MW.

Construction of the first stage units began in 1973, which were commissioned from 1983 to 1986, and was followed by second stage units in 1987. A US $23m fund will be provided for Thermal Plant Project at Bulawayo and US $19m for the Deka Pipe laying project. The funding is expected to help complete the projects within the stipulated time.

The project which features 120MW units and two units of 220MW, will also involves a significant upgrade to the country’s transmission network, works that are required to absorb such a significant increase in generation capacity. The Hwange project will be a significant milestone in the rehabilitation of the infrastructure critical to increasing Zimbabwe’s economic output, representing one of the largest foreign investments in the country in recent years.

Indian Vice President, however pointed out that Zimbabwe requires a lot of planning and good corporate management to ensure efficient, timely and cost effective implementation of the project.

He further added that the Indian government will extend its support to the country’s micro and mini-grid, smart grids, hybrid renewable energy technologies and two LOC projects.

source: constructionreviewonline.com