By Adesina Quadri Ademola
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has again underscored his continental industrial ambition with a fresh $2.5 billion investment in Ethiopia, where the Dangote Group is set to build one of the world’s largest single-site urea fertiliser plants.
The landmark deal, sealed through a shareholders’ agreement between Dangote Group and Ethiopia Investment Holdings (EIH), the strategic investment arm of the Ethiopian government, will birth a state-of-the-art complex in Gode, Somali region of Ethiopia.
Under the arrangement, Dangote Group will retain a 60 per cent equity stake, while EIH will hold 40 per cent. The facility, when completed, will boast a production capacity of three million metric tonnes of urea fertiliser per annum, ranking it among the top five largest fertiliser complexes globally.
According to Dangote spokesperson, Tony Chiejine, the ambitious project goes beyond fertiliser production. It will integrate advanced gas transport pipelines, storage facilities, logistics systems, and export infrastructure to serve both domestic and regional markets. The gas supply will be sourced from Ethiopia’s proven Hilal and Calub reserves.
Chiejine added that the agreement also allows for expansion into other ammonia-based fertilisers such as ammonium nitrate and calcium ammonium nitrate, further consolidating Ethiopia’s aspiration of becoming a regional hub for fertiliser production.
The $2.5 billion project, scheduled for delivery within 40 months, is designed to anchor Ethiopia’s drive towards agricultural transformation and food security.
Speaking on the partnership, Dangote described the project as a “pivotal moment” in Africa’s quest for industrialisation.
“This partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings represents a strategic alignment to unlock Africa’s agricultural potential,” Dangote said. “The location of Gode, coupled with Ethiopia’s abundant natural gas reserves, offers the perfect foundation for what will become a game-changing fertiliser complex. This is more than an investment; it is a catalyst for Africa’s food security.”
On his part, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Investment Holdings, Dr. Brook Taye, hailed the agreement as a bold step toward Ethiopia’s economic renaissance.
“This landmark project reflects our national priorities,” Taye noted. “By securing a 40 per cent stake, Ethiopia will not only boost its agricultural productivity but also strengthen its position as a regional fertiliser powerhouse.”
With food security still a pressing concern across Africa, the Dangote-EIH partnership signals a fresh phase of homegrown solutions to the continent’s agricultural and industrial challenges.
