Ethiopia is set to become the second country in Sub-Saharan Africa to have a urea fertiliser production plant, thanks to a partnership between Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) and Dangote Group.
In a statement, spokesperson of the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, disclosed to the media that they have signed an agreement to develop a complex in Gode with a capacity of three million metric tonnes per annum, marking a significant investment in Ethiopia’s industrial landscape.
With EIH holding a 40% equity stake and Dangote Group owning 60%, this project will be one of the largest urea production complexes globally.
It includes the construction of pipelines to transport natural gas from Ethiopia’s Hilal and Calub reserves, ensuring a reliable supply for the facility, which will also support domestic and regional markets.
Estimated development costs are around $2.5 billion, with completion aimed within 40 months.
This investment is expected to reduce Ethiopia’s fertiliser import dependency, create thousands of jobs, and enhance food security in the region.
Both leaders, Aliko Dangote and Dr. Brook Taye, emphasised the project’s importance in transforming Ethiopia’s agricultural sector and promoting self-sufficiency.