Conglomerate targets 9m MT annual urea capacity and launches giant Ethiopian project as Africa’s fertiliser demand surges
The Dangote Group has announced a series of high-level technical partnerships designed to drive a massive expansion of its fertiliser operations in Nigeria and accelerate work on a new multi-billion-dollar fertiliser plant in Ethiopia.
The conglomerate disclosed the development in a statement issued on Thursday, saying the agreements will enable it to triple Nigeria’s annual urea production capacity, from three million metric tonnes to nine million metric tonnes, solidifying the country’s position as a key fertiliser supplier to Africa and international markets.
Under the expansion plan, Dangote’s existing two-train fertiliser complex in Lagos, which currently produces three million metric tonnes of urea per year, will be upgraded with four additional production trains. The move is expected to help meet rising demand from Nigerian farmers, agro-dealers and major global off-takers.
The announcement comes just 48 hours after the Group named US-based Honeywell as a strategic partner in its broader industrial growth agenda, including plans to scale refining capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028.
In the statement, the Group said the new partnerships form part of its long-term commitment to strengthening food security across Africa, enhancing agricultural productivity, and reducing the continent’s heavy dependence on imported fertiliser.
“Through these strategic partnerships, Dangote Group will increase its urea production capacity in Nigeria from the current three million metric tonnes to nine million metric tonnes annually,” the company said. “The expansion will introduce four new trains to complement the existing two, enabling us to meet rising domestic and international demand for high-quality fertiliser.”
$2.5bn Ethiopian mega-project takes off
Beyond Nigeria, Dangote has commenced work on a $2.5bn fertiliser plant in Gode, Ethiopia, planned to produce an additional three million metric tonnes of urea annually. The groundbreaking ceremony was held recently, signalling the Group’s intention to broaden its continental footprint after establishing one of Africa’s largest fertiliser operations in Lagos.
To deliver both the Nigerian expansion and the Ethiopian plant to global standards, Dangote has signed technical partnership agreements with four leading international engineering and technology companies:
- Topsoe (Denmark): to provide ammonia technology licensing and full process design packages for six ammonia plants, four in Nigeria and two in Ethiopia.
- Saipem (Italy): responsible for urea melt unit licensing and design across all six plants.
- Thyssenkrupp/UFT (Germany): to supply advanced urea granulation technology for premium-grade granules.
- Engineers India Limited (India): appointed as project management consultant for the four Lekki fertiliser trains, overseeing engineering, procurement and construction.
The Group said the partnerships demonstrate its commitment to building world-class industrial assets and strengthening agricultural value chains across the continent.
“These collaborations reflect our dedication to delivering high-quality industrial infrastructure that meets stringent global standards,” the statement added. “The expansion will boost urea and ammonia production, create thousands of jobs, and support sustainable economic growth in Nigeria, Ethiopia and across Africa.”
Africa’s fertiliser gap
Africa currently produces less than 20% of the fertiliser required to achieve optimal crop yields, a shortfall driven by high costs, weak local manufacturing and supply chain disruptions. Dangote Fertiliser already Africa’s largest facility has been instrumental in narrowing this gap, supplying markets in Brazil, Mexico and several West African countries.
With the new expansion, Nigeria is on track to become one of the world’s leading urea producers, improving regional food security at a time when climate challenges and geopolitical tensions are reshaping global agricultural supply chains.
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