Manufacturing firm, Izedon Carbonates, has inaugurated its production plant in Lampese, Edo State, in a bid to bolster Nigeria’s non-oil revenue and reduce the importation of calcium carbonates.

In a statement, Izedon Carbonates, trading as IzeCarb, said it put up a state-of-the-art facility, equipped with advanced automated machinery, the first of its kind in the country, and aims to redefine local production standards.

The company added that it operates a federal government-licensed quarry and specialises in mining high-quality dolomite and converting it into calcium carbonates, a key raw material for various industries, including oil and gas, PVC manufacturing, paints, coatings, and Plaster of Paris.

Chairman and founder of Izedon Carbonates, Osayi Izedonmwen, noted that the venture aligns with the company’s vision for import substitution and economic diversification.

 “Import substitution is our end goal,” Izedonmwen stated during the commissioning ceremony. “We foresee a future in which Nigeria will no longer need to import calcium carbonates because of the high-quality products of IzeCarb. In the first six months, we aim to meet local demand and scale production to 200,000 metric tonnes annually within a year. Our long-term goal is to reach 1 million metric tonnes within three years, serving Nigeria and the West African sub-region.”

According to the firm, its “Quarry to Customer” model, supported by a fleet of 50-tonne delivery trucks, ensures products are transported directly to customers, giving it a competitive edge in the market.

Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Dr. Olasupo Olusi, represented by the BOI’s South-South Regional Manager, Babatunde Ajala, commended the project and pledged the bank’s support for IzeCarb’s expansion plans.

Ajala noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda for economic diversification and industrial growth.

Further, Chairman, Akoko-Edo Local Government, Tajudeen Suleman, expressed satisfaction with the completion of the project, remarking, “It is gratifying to witness the commissioning of this production plant, which will undoubtedly contribute to local economic development.”