The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has led the groundbreaking ceremony for a $2.5 billion fertiliser plant in Gode, Ethiopia.
According to a statement issued by the Dangote Group on Sunday, the project—developed in partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings—will have an annual production capacity of three million metric tonnes of urea, positioning it among the largest fertiliser complexes in the world.
Located in Ethiopia’s south-eastern region, the plant will utilise the country’s vast natural gas reserves from the Hilal and Calub fields to boost agricultural productivity, create jobs, and strengthen food security across the Horn of Africa.
Dangote commended Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his government for implementing economic reforms and liberalisation policies that have opened key sectors to private and foreign investment. He also praised the government’s continued investment in infrastructure, including energy, transport, and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which he described as the foundation for Ethiopia’s industrial growth.
“This partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings represents a pivotal moment in our shared vision to industrialise Africa and achieve food security across the continent,” Dangote said. “We are committed to bringing our decades of experience in large-scale industrial projects to ensure this venture becomes a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s industrial transformation.”
He revealed that the Gode plant marks the beginning of a broader strategy to expand into the production of other fertilisers, including ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, NPK, and calcium ammonium nitrate—aiming to make Ethiopia a regional hub for fertiliser production.
Dangote projected that within five years, Ethiopia could become one of Africa’s leading agricultural nations. He noted that this project is Dangote Group’s second major investment in Ethiopia, following its 2.5 million tonnes per annum cement plant in Mugher, which has operated for over a decade. An additional $400 million has already been committed to double the plant’s capacity.
The statement also highlighted Dangote Group’s broader strategy to promote Africa-led industrialisation, reduce import dependence, and transform local economies. Dangote cited Nigeria’s progress toward becoming a net exporter of petroleum products, cement, and fertiliser as evidence of what African-led industrialisation can achieve.
“These investments have already changed Nigeria’s story. We’ve moved from being import-dependent to becoming self-sufficient and even exporters of cement, fertiliser, and petroleum products. We are ready and happy to work with more African countries to drive their industrialisation plans,” he said.
Dangote added that the Gode project marks the first time a private African investor has partnered with an African government to build such a large-scale industrial complex. He also announced plans for a polypropylene bagging plant to support the fertiliser industry in Ethiopia.
He expressed appreciation to financial institutions including Afreximbank, the Africa Finance Corporation, Access Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank, and other indigenous banks for their support of the project.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the fertiliser project as a symbol of “shared responsibility, cooperation, and peace,” adding that it reflects Ethiopia’s determination to harness its potential and elevate its presence on the global stage.
“They embody our shared responsibility to harness opportunities, strengthen cooperation, and promote peace,” Abiy said. “By doing so, we elevate Ethiopia’s presence on the global stage in a way that honours the true spirit of our Ethiopian identity.”
Source:Africa Publicity
