Dangote group signs US$3B deal for fertilizer plant in Gode, Ethiopia
Ethiopia currently imports the bulk of its fertiliser needs, particularly urea and nitrogen-based products, from countries such as Morocco and Russia
ETHIOPIA – The Dangote Group has signed a US$3 billion agreement with the Ethiopian government to build a state-of-the-art fertiliser plant in Gode, a city strategically located in Ethiopia’s Somali Region along the Ethiopia–Djibouti corridor.
The project is aimed at enhancing Ethiopia’s fertiliser self-sufficiency and supporting regional agricultural transformation, while aligning with the government’s Homegrown Economic Reform II (HGER II) agenda.
Announcing the agreement, Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Group, said, “This project is not just an investment; it is a strong commitment to Ethiopia’s agricultural self-sufficiency and regional economic integration.”
Africa must feed Africa. Together, we will strengthen food security, create jobs, and build a prosperous future for generations to come,” he added.
Ethiopia currently imports the bulk of its fertiliser needs, particularly urea and nitrogen-based products, from countries such as Morocco and Russia. In recent years, annual urea imports have reached over 765,000 tonnes, with total fertiliser imports climbing steadily at an average of 10.8% annually.
The reliance on imports has made the country vulnerable to global price fluctuations and supply chain disruptions.
The new fertiliser facility is expected to help reduce Ethiopia’s dependence on external suppliers by producing urea and nitrogen fertilisers locally.
Although detailed production capacity figures have not been released, the project is likely to mirror the scale of Dangote’s fertiliser plant in Nigeria, which has a capacity of 3 million tonnes per year and exports fertiliser to international markets, including the United States.
The choice of Gode as the site for the plant is strategic. Located near the Ethiopia–Djibouti transport axis, the city offers logistical advantages for both importing raw materials and exporting finished products.
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the plant anticipated to take approximately 40 months to complete.
Beyond addressing fertiliser shortages, the project is expected to generate significant employment opportunities during both the construction and operational phases, and catalyse ancillary industries in logistics, maintenance, and distribution.
This initiative builds on Dangote Group’s success in the Ethiopian cement sector and signals its long-term commitment to expanding its footprint in East Africa.
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