Technical Profile on the Production of Pozzolana (An Emerging Construction Material) in Nigeria

Abstract

Pozzolana which is an eco-friendly and cheap supplementary cementious material has not been established on a commercial scale in the construction industry in Nigeria. Hence, this paper is aimed at presenting a feasibility study to show the viability and highlight the business opportunities available for local and foreign investors in the area of pozzolana production in Nigeria. The paper discussed the technical requirements and estimated start-up capital for setting up a Pozzolana production plant from calcinated of Fifteen Thousand Tonnes Annual Production Capacity. An outline for start-up capital identified building and civil work, furniture and fixtures, machinery and equipment requirement, intangible assets, and seed fund. Raw materials/utilities and organizational requirement for annual production were also presented. The investment is viable with a total investment cost of $507,321.23, annual net profit of $107,961.70 and a payback period of 4.7 years. The net profit ratio and rate of return are 16.28% and 21.28% respectively. The findings and understanding of the technical and financial requirements from this work will aid investors in making decisions. The project if carried out will reduce cement contents in concrete and mortar structures, with eco-friendly cement admixtures and subsequently reduce the cost of construction in general.