A new chapter in Africa’s industrialisation journey opened on Thursday as President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote joined Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in breaking ground for a $2.5 billion fertiliser plant in Gode, Ethiopia.
The landmark project, developed in partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), will produce three million metric tonnes of urea annually, ranking among the world’s largest fertiliser complexes. Strategically located in Ethiopia’s South-East, the facility will tap into the country’s vast natural gas reserves at Hilal and Calub, with the aim of boosting agricultural productivity, creating jobs, and strengthening food security across the Horn of Africa.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hailed the project as a symbol of cooperation, unity, and peace.
> “They embody our shared responsibility to harness opportunities, strengthen cooperation, and promote peace. By doing so, we elevate Ethiopia’s presence on the global stage in a way that honours the true spirit of our Ethiopian identity,” he said.
Ethiopia’s Industrial Leap
Dangote commended the Ethiopian government for its reforms and economic liberalisation, which have opened key sectors to private investment. He praised major infrastructure projects including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as a foundation for the country’s industrial future.
“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.
He revealed that the Gode fertiliser project is only the beginning, with expansion plans into ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, NPK, and calcium ammonium nitrate. With this diversification, Ethiopia could emerge as Africa’s leading agricultural nation within five years, he projected.
Dangote’s Footprint in Ethiopia and Beyond
The fertiliser venture follows Dangote Group’s earlier investment in Ethiopia, where its cement subsidiary operates a 2.5 million tonnes-per-annum plant in Mugher. An additional $400 million is being invested to double that plant’s capacity.
Across Africa, Dangote Group has become synonymous with large-scale industrial projects. Its cement operations span 11 countries with 55 million tonnes in installed capacity. In Nigeria, the company built the world’s largest single-train oil refinery (650,000 barrels per day), a one million metric tonne polypropylene plant, and one of the largest fertiliser operations globally, with output set to hit nine million tonnes annually after expansion.
Dangote said the Group’s strategy is rooted in the belief that “only Africans can develop Africa.”
> “We’ve moved Nigeria from import dependence to self-sufficiency in cement, fertiliser, and petroleum products. Our mission is to help other African nations achieve the same transformation,” he emphasized.
Regional Impact and Support
The Somali Region’s President, Mustafa Omar, described Dangote as “the anchor investor Ethiopia has been looking for,” applauding his credibility and commitment to Africa’s growth.
Financial institutions including Afreximbank, Africa Finance Corporation, Access Bank, First Bank, and Zenith Bank are backing the project. Dangote also announced plans for a polypropylene bagging plant in Ethiopia to support the fertiliser complex.
“This project marks a new dawn, the first time a private African investor is partnering with an African country to build an industrial complex of this scale. We understand Africa, its challenges, its opportunities, and its potential. And we believe only Africans can truly transform Africa,” Dangote concluded.
The groundbreaking ceremony drew senior Ethiopian government officials, industry leaders, and financiers, underscoring the scale and significance of the investment.
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