BUA’s $50m pasta plant to begin production

BUA International Group, one of the leading local conglomerates, is set to join the league of major pasta producers in the country, following a $50m (N8.1bn) investment in its production plant.

The Group Chief Operating Officer, BUA Group, Mr. Chimaobi Madukwe, who confirmed the development on Wednesday, said the new pasta plant would be inaugurated by the end of March, adding that the plant was almost completed.

According to him, the inauguration of the plant will be done by the end of first quarter this year.

Giving details of the new investment in the Pasta Plant, the Group COO said, “The factory stands on a 1.5 hectare land space and consists of a 5000 tonnes wheat silo to produce semolina at 360 metric tonnes per day, while the pasta production plant has a capacity of 240 MT per day.

“There is also a massive water treatment plant to supply the entire factory with purified and wholesome water to ensure that the food products meet all national and international food safety standards.”

He noted that the plant would be supported by the company‘s flour milling plants in Lagos and Kano, with each having a production capacity of 500 metric tonnes per day. He added that the Kano flour plant was currently being upgraded to produce 1,500 MT per day, while efforts were being made to consistently expand the production capacities of both companies.

He noted that the project evolved within the purview of the Chairman, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu’s vision to build a proudly Nigerian manufacturing conglomerate.

“The Executive Chairman, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, having identified the instrumentality of pasta as a food item in the fight against the scourge of hunger currently ravaging the globe, has invested over $50m to set up the pasta plant”.

The plant, which is located in the KiriKiri area of Apapa, Lagos, according to Madukwe, currently provides employment for over 500 workers. He said on completion of the plant (by the end of March), there would be direct employment of over 1,000 people, ranging from truck drivers to loaders and distributors amongst others.

In addition, he said the new plant would also provide indirect employment for thousands, thereby steering economic activities for not less than 50,000 people, including food vendors and other ancillary services providers.

To ensure uninterrupted power supply, the company installed four power plants fired with natural gas. This arrangement, he Madukwe said, “will ensure that the plant does not depend on PHCN during production.”

BUA is noted for top quality products both in cement and in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods category.

Also, In the FMCG sector of manufacturing, BUA sugar, flour and edible oil are rated high in quality. Madukwe noted that the pasta plant was built to maintain the same quality and Good Manufacturing Practices required by National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Controland the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.