By The Dangote Group, led by President/Chief Executive Aliko Dangote, has officially broken ground on a $2.5 billion fertiliser plant in Gode, Ethiopia.
The project, a partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), is designed to be one of the world’s largest, with an annual production capacity of three million metric tonnes of urea.
The complex, located in Ethiopia’s South-East region, will leverage the country’s abundant natural gas reserves to boost agricultural output, create jobs, and enhance food security across the Horn of Africa.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stressed that the project represents more than just industrial progress; it “symbolises shared responsibility, cooperation, and peace.” PM Abiy highlighted the venture as a reflection of Ethiopia’s commitment to leveraging opportunities and securing its presence on the global stage.
“They embody our shared responsibility to harness opportunities, strengthen cooperation, and promote peace,” the Prime Minister said, urging all Ethiopians to unite for progress that elevates the nation’s international standing.
Dangote, in his remarks, commended PM Abiy and his cabinet for introducing economic reforms that have opened crucial sectors to private investment, positioning Ethiopia as one of Africa’s most attractive destinations for global investors.
“This partnership represents a pivotal moment in our shared vision to industrialise Africa and achieve food security across the continent,” Dangote stated. He added that the Group is committed to ensuring the plant becomes a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s industrial transformation, noting that the government’s heavy investment in infrastructure, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, has laid a solid foundation for this growth.
Dangote disclosed that the Gode plant is only the beginning, with future plans to expand production to include other essential fertilisers like NPK, ammonium nitrate, and calcium ammonium nitrate. This expansion, he stated, will establish Ethiopia as a regional hub for fertiliser production.
He confidently predicted that with such investments, Ethiopia could emerge as Africa’s leading agricultural nation within five years.
The $2.5 billion complex is the Dangote Group’s second major commitment in Ethiopia. The company’s cement subsidiary has been successfully operating a 2.5 Mtpa plant in Mugher for over a decade, with an additional $400 million already allocated to double its capacity there.
Underscoring the Group’s guiding philosophy that “only Africans can develop Africa,” Dangote referenced the successful transformation of Nigeria into a net exporter of cement, petroleum products, and fertiliser through the Group’s large-scale investments.
“The Gode project is a new dawn. This project marks the first time a private African investor is partnering with an African country to build such an industrial complex,” he said. “We understand Africa, its challenges, its opportunities, and its potential.” He also hinted at a potential polypropylene bagging plant to further boost the local industry.
The project received commendation from various financial partners, including Afreximbank, Africa Finance Corporation, Access Bank, First Bank, and Zenith Bank.
Meanwhile, the President of the Somali Region, Mustafa Omar, enthusiastically described Dangote as “the anchor investor Ethiopia has been looking for,” emphasizing that he is appreciated by both Ethiopians and Africans broadly. Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, also praised Ethiopia’s economic strides and voiced optimism for strengthened Nigerian-Ethiopian economic ties.
