Chinese cement manufacturer Sinoma, in partnership with  Nigeria's Dangote Group, has signed a $228 million contract for cement lines in Africa.

The deal, which excludes an additional $324 million to be spent on power, infrastructure and mining equipment, is a bid to meet the increasing demand for cement in the continent. 

The contract sum is to build a 3,000-tonne per day cement plant in Senegal and Zambia.

Dangote’s chief executive Aliko Dangote said the company’s strategy is to increase local cement production to meet the demand, while ensuring that value added benefits remain in the continent.

"We have concluded this deal with Sinoma, to drive forward our Pan-African expansion strategy at a time when the global economy seems to be emerging from recession,” said Dangote in a media interview.

The Dangote Group operates the Obajana Cement Plant, the largest in sub-Saharan Africa, and also own other substantial investment programmes in the region.