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Source: africa.businessinsider
The mega-plant, built in partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings, will produce three million metric tonnes of urea annually, making it one of the world’s largest fertiliser complexes.
Located in Ethiopia’s South-East, the facility will tap into natural gas from the Hilal and Calub reserves, driving agricultural productivity and creating thousands of jobs.
At the groundbreaking, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the project as a symbol of “shared responsibility, cooperation, and peace.”
“They embody our shared responsibility to harness opportunities, strengthen cooperation, and promote peace. Hence, I call upon all Ethiopians to continue mobilising in unity for progress. By doing so, we elevate Ethiopia’s presence on the global stage in a way that honours the true spirit of our Ethiopian identity,” Abiy said.
Dangote, who has invested heavily across Africa, praised Ethiopia’s economic reforms, including investment in transport, energy, and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. He said the project marks a pivotal moment in the continent’s push for industrialisation.
“This partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings represents a pivotal moment in our shared vision to industrialise Africa and achieve food security across the continent. We are committed to bringing our decades of experience in large-scale industrial projects to ensure this venture becomes a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s industrial transformation,” Dangote said.
The billionaire industrialist hinted that Gode is only the beginning. Plans are underway to expand into the production of ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, NPK, and calcium ammonium nitrate, positioning Ethiopia as a fertiliser hub for the Horn of Africa. He boldly predicted that “within five years, Ethiopia could become Africa’s leading agricultural nation.”
This is Dangote’s second major investment in Ethiopia. His cement subsidiary has operated a 2.5 million tonne-per-annum plant in Mugher for over a decade, with another $400 million earmarked to double its capacity.
Dangote framed his latest venture as part of a larger African industrial revolution.
“These investments have already changed Nigeria’s story. We’ve moved from being import-dependent to becoming self-sufficient and even exporters of cement, fertiliser, and petroleum products.
“The Gode project is a new dawn. This marks the first time a private African investor is partnering with an African country to build such an industrial complex. We understand Africa, its challenges, its opportunities, and its potential. And we believe only Africans can truly transform Africa,” he said.
Regional leaders and financiers echoed the optimism, with Somali Region President Mustafa Omar calling Dangote “the anchor investor Ethiopia has been looking for,” while Nigerian Exchange Group Chairman Dr Umaru Kwairanga praised Ethiopia’s leadership and expressed confidence in stronger Nigeria-Ethiopia relations.
Dangote also commended financial institutions, including Afreximbank, Africa Finance Corporation, Access Bank, First Bank, and Zenith Bank, for their support of the project.
With Africa’s population expected to hit 2.5 billion by 2050, fertiliser production is increasingly viewed as a critical driver of food security. By turning Ethiopia into a fertiliser hub, the Dangote Group is not just investing in one country’s future; it is planting seeds for Africa’s agricultural independence.
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