Background
A new integrated cement plant in Ogun State, Nigeria β approximately 80km north of Lagos β was in the final stages of construction when its EPC contractor identified a supply chain problem: the European belt supplier originally specified had a 14-week delivery lead time, and the plant's commissioning schedule required belts on-site within 8 weeks.
The EPC contractor's procurement team contacted Elephant Rubber as an alternative supplier that could deliver within the required timeframe. The scope covered 18 conveyor belts for the limestone quarry, raw mill feed, kiln feed, clinker handling, and packing lines.
Supply Challenge
Lead time: 8 weeks from order to delivery at Lagos port (Apapa). Our standard production time for EP belts is 15β20 days. Shipping from Tianjin to Apapa is approximately 25β28 days. Total: 40β48 days β within the 56-day (8-week) window if production began immediately upon order.
Documentation: The EPC contractor needed full documentation for Nigerian import customs: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and material test certificates per DIN 22102. These were prepared in parallel with production.
Technical specification: The European supplier's original specification was in DIN format. We reviewed the spec and confirmed all items were within our standard production capability β EP150 to EP315 in widths 500mm to 1,400mm, with tropical-grade covers.
Belt Schedule
| Conveyor | Qty | Width | EP Rating | Cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limestone quarry haulage | 2 | 1,400mm | EP315 | 10mm M24 tropical |
| Crusher product | 2 | 1,200mm | EP315 | 8mm M24 tropical |
| Raw mill feed | 3 | 1,000mm | EP250 | 6mm M24 tropical |
| Kiln feed | 2 | 800mm | EP200 | 6mm HR150 |
| Clinker cooler discharge | 1 | 1,000mm | EP250 | 8mm HR180 |
| Clinker conveying | 2 | 800mm | EP250 | 6mm HR150 |
| Coal mill feed | 2 | 650mm | EP200 | 6mm M24 tropical |
| Packing and dispatch | 4 | 500mm | EP150 | 5mm N17 |
All tropical-grade belts specified with UV-stabilized, ozone-resistant EPDM compound β standard for outdoor West African installations.
Delivery
Production was completed in 17 days. The complete shipment β 18 belt rolls in a single 40-foot container β departed Tianjin on day 19. The container arrived at Apapa Port on day 46.
Port clearance at Apapa took 9 days (slightly longer than expected due to a public holiday in the middle of the clearance period). The container was released on day 55 β one day before the 8-week deadline.
The EPC contractor's logistics team collected the container from Apapa and trucked it to the plant site in Ogun State β approximately 3 hours from the port.
Commissioning
Belts were installed during the plant commissioning period. All 18 belts were confirmed to correct dimensions on arrival β no measurement discrepancies that required re-ordering.
The plant commissioned on schedule. The cement plant's maintenance manager reported all belts performing normally at the 6-month post-commissioning review.
Key Points
Chinese suppliers can meet West African delivery timelines that European suppliers cannot. The 40β48 day total lead time (production + shipping) is competitive for the West African market where European suppliers face 12β16 week delivery cycles.
Documentation quality determines customs clearance speed. Nigerian import clearance can be fast or slow depending on documentation completeness. We prepared all documents correctly from the start β errors in documentation add days to clearance.
Port clearance buffer time is essential in planning. Apapa port clearance can range from 5 to 20+ days. Always allow buffer time between vessel arrival and the date belts are actually needed at the plant.
Package supply for new plant construction reduces procurement complexity. Sourcing 18 belts from one supplier under one commercial arrangement, one shipment, one documentation package is operationally simpler than managing multiple suppliers.
Elephant Rubber supplied all 18 conveyor belts for this project within the required 8-week delivery window.