Lafarge Africa says its road cement brand Roadcem has been approved for use by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in Nigeria.
The environmentally friendly product increases the roads’ strength and bearing capacity, reduces the pavement structure’s thickness, and modifies the chemical and mineral structure of soil materials.
In Nigeria, there is high variability in the quality of soil available across the country. Traditional methods of excavating, placing, and compacting soil make it challenging to achieve uniform quality. With Roadcem, Lafarge Africa has provided a soil stabilisation product that helps improve the soil’s characteristics before it is used for the base, sub-base, or sub-grade construction. This product has proven very effective on several projects and ensures sub-base/base improvement, less road breakdown, long-term durability, and cost savings.
Lafarge’s RoadCem is produced by inter-grinding cement clinker with a controlled amount of limestone and chemical additives. Roadcem provides better volume stability by controlling swell and shrinkage and providing better durability while allowing the stabilised layer to achieve long-term strength.
Osita Ezedozie, director of Highways (Materials, Geotechnics & Quality Control) at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, said: “Following the improved performance observed from the tests, pilot study and evaluation of Roadcem over Ordinary Portland Cement in soil (sharp sand) stabilisation, approval has been granted for the introduction and use of Roadcem for stabilisation of soil (sharp sand) in highway pavement sub-base course construction. At 5.0% Roadcem content, the stabilised sharp sand complies with all the specification requirements for a sub-base course. It also achieves higher stability at a lower cost than stabilisation with ordinary Portland cement.”
Lafarge Africa has been at the forefront of providing innovative and sustainable building solutions, underscoring its sustainability leadership within its operating environment. With its innovative products and solutions, Lafarge Africa creates value for its customers and serves Nigeria with a wide range of building and construction solutions designed to meet housing and construction needs, from small projects like individual home buildings to major infrastructure and construction projects.
Lafarge Africa says it is proud to have achieved this feat and to contribute to the development of sustainable infrastructure within Nigeria.
