A new chapter in Africa’s industrial growth began as Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, led the groundbreaking of a $2.5 billion fertiliser plant in Gode, Ethiopia. The project, a partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), is set to produce three million metric tonnes of urea annually, positioning it as one of the largest fertiliser complexes in the world.
Strategically located in Ethiopia’s South-East region, the plant will leverage local natural gas resources from the Hilal and Calub reserves to enhance agricultural productivity, generate employment, and strengthen food security across the Horn of Africa.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed Ali, described the project as a symbol of shared responsibility, cooperation, and peace. “This project reflects Ethiopia’s commitment to harnessing opportunities and elevating its presence on the global stage,” he said.
Dangote emphasised the project’s significance for Africa’s industrialisation and food security. “This venture marks the beginning of our expansion into other fertiliser products, including ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, NPK, and calcium ammonium nitrate, positioning Ethiopia as a regional hub for fertiliser production,” he said. He projected that Ethiopia could become Africa’s leading agricultural nation within five years.
The Gode fertiliser plant follows Dangote Group’s ongoing investments in Ethiopia, including its 2.5 million tonnes per annum cement plant in Mugher, where an additional $400 million has been committed to doubling capacity. Dangote said his group’s strategy across Africa is guided by the principle that “only Africans can develop Africa,” focusing on manufacturing to reduce import dependence.
“These investments have transformed Nigeria from an import-dependent nation to a self-sufficient exporter of cement, fertiliser, and petroleum products. Our goal is to replicate this success across the continent,” Dangote added.
The industrialist also hinted at plans to establish a polypropylene bagging plant to support the fertiliser sector in Ethiopia. He expressed gratitude to financial institutions, including Afreximbank, Africa Finance Corporation, Access Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank, and other local banks, for supporting the project.
The President of the Somali Region, Mustafa Omar, described Dangote as “the anchor investor Ethiopia has been looking for,” while the Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Dr Umaru Kwairanga, praised Ethiopia’s leadership for its economic strides and called the fertiliser complex “a gigantic project befitting of Aliko Dangote’s vision and execution capacity.”
Attended by senior Ethiopian officials, financiers, and industry leaders, the groundbreaking underscores Dangote Group’s growing role in Africa’s industrial transformation. Dangote Cement now has a total installed capacity of 55 million tonnes per annum across 11 countries, while the fertiliser arm, initially three million tonnes, is expanding to nine million tonnes, set to become the world’s largest fertiliser operation.
