Dangote Fertiliser Plant to Support Ethiopia’s Food Security Goals

News in brief:

-Ethiopia and the Dangote Group are pushing forward with a multi-billion-dollar fertiliser project aimed at boosting food security and making the country self-sufficient in fertiliser production.

-The planned urea plant in Ethiopia’s Somali region will produce 3 million metric tonnes annually and form part of a wider $4 billion investment package.

The Ethiopian government is advancing plans with the Dangote Group to develop a large-scale fertiliser plant in the country’s Somali region as part of broader efforts to strengthen food security and industrialisation.

Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote visited Ethiopia over the weekend to deepen discussions around the project and other investment opportunities in the country.

The Ethiopian government and the Dangote Group had earlier agreed on a $2.5 billion deal for the development of the urea fertiliser plant in Gode.

Plant Expected To Produce 3 Million Tonnes Annually

The proposed facility is expected to produce about 3 million metric tonnes of urea annually.

Ethiopian authorities say the project is central to the country’s ambition to become self-sufficient in fertiliser production while also positioning itself as a major regional exporter.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described food security as a 'strategic intervention' as both parties moved forward with implementation plans for the project.

According to him, the investment reflects a shared vision between Ethiopia and the Dangote Group.

“Our interest is to have him in many areas because he’s delivering. As a government, we want to support him and realise our common vision. It’s a win-win for both of us,” the prime minister stated.

Dangote Investment Commitment Rises Above $4bn

The Dangote Group later disclosed that its total investment commitment in Ethiopia has now exceeded $4 billion following the expansion of infrastructure plans tied to the fertiliser project.

According to the company, the wider investment package will include a 110-kilometre pipeline, a 120-megawatt power plant, a polypropylene packaging facility and a two-million-tonne NPK blending plant.

Dangote said Ethiopia has become one of the group’s largest investment destinations in Africa.

“So in totality, our own investment so far, declared and agreed on and signed off, is over 4 billion dollars in Ethiopia. Ethiopia actually is the second largest receiver of our own investment,” he revealed.

The fertiliser project is expected to improve fertiliser supply across Ethiopia and neighbouring markets while supporting agricultural productivity and regional trade.

The development also aligns with Ethiopia’s broader strategy to strengthen domestic manufacturing, reduce dependence on imported fertilisers and support long-term food security objectives.