Gode: A new chapter in Africa’s industrial story opened as Aliko Dangote, Chief Executive of Dangote Group, joined Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to launch a $2.5 billion fertiliser plant in Gode, Ethiopia. The project, a partnership between Dangote Group and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), will have a production capacity of three million metric tonnes of urea annually, making it one of the world’s largest fertiliser complexes.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the strategically located plant in Ethiopia’s South-East region will leverage the country’s abundant natural gas resources from the Hilal and Calub reserves to boost agricultural productivity, create jobs, and enhance food security across the Horn of Africa. Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the project as more than industrial progress, calling it a symbol of shared responsibility, cooperation, and peace. He emphasized Ethiopia’s determination to harness opportunities and elevate its global standing.
Dangote commended Prime Minister Abiy and his cabinet for reforms and economic liberalization that have opened key sectors to private investment, positioning Ethiopia as one of Africa’s most attractive investment destinations. He lauded the government’s investments in infrastructure, including transport, energy, and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, describing them as critical foundations for industrialisation.
Dangote revealed that the Gode project marks the beginning of a broader fertiliser production strategy, with plans to expand into ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, NPK, and calcium ammonium nitrate. These efforts, he said, will position Ethiopia as a regional fertiliser production hub and could make it Africa’s leading agricultural nation within five years.
This is Dangote Group’s second major investment in Ethiopia. Its cement subsidiary has operated a 2.5 Mta plant in Mugher for over a decade, with an additional $400 million committed to doubling its capacity. Across Africa, Dangote noted that the Group’s strategy is anchored on the belief that ‘only Africans can develop Africa,’ focusing on manufacturing to reduce import dependence.
He highlighted the Group’s role in transforming Nigeria into a net exporter of petroleum products, cement, and fertiliser through its refinery and fertiliser operations, which are set to become the largest in the world at nine million metric tonnes per annum. Dangote also announced plans to establish a polypropylene bagging plant in Ethiopia to support the fertiliser industry.
Dangote expressed gratitude to financial partners, including Afreximbank, Africa Finance Corporation, Access Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank, and other indigenous banks, for supporting the project. Meanwhile, the President of the Somali Region, Mustafa Omar, described Aliko Dangote as ‘the anchor investor Ethiopia has been looking for,’ praising his reputation as a trusted and highly regarded investor across Africa.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, commended Ethiopia’s leadership for its economic strides and expressed optimism about stronger economic relations between Nigeria and Ethiopia. He described the fertiliser complex as a ‘gigantic project befitting of Aliko Dangote’s vision and execution capacity.’
The groundbreaking event was attended by senior Ethiopian government officials, industry leaders, and financiers. Across Africa, Dangote Group’s industrial footprint continues to expand. Dangote Cement has a total installed capacity of 55 million tonnes per annum across 11 countries. The company has also built the world’s largest single-train refinery in Nigeria, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, alongside a one-million-tonne polypropylene plant. Its fertiliser arm, initially three million metric tonnes, is being expanded by six million tonnes to become the world’s largest fertiliser operation.