• Dangote Group to build urea and nitrogen fertilizer plant in Somali region.
• Ethiopia aims to reduce fertilizer imports and boost local production.
• Construction to take 40 months, with $3 billion investment expected.
Ethiopia has approved a deal with Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote to build a major fertilizer plant, aiming to slash the country’s dependence on imports and meet soaring agricultural demand. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the agreement on July 3.
The new plant will rise in Ethiopia’s Somali region and produce urea and nitrogen-based fertilizers for both local farmers and export markets, according to the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA).
Although officials have not confirmed the plant’s production capacity, local media estimate the project will cost around $3 billion. Construction is set to start soon and will take roughly 40 months to complete.
Ethiopia is Africa’s top fertilizer importer, but the government wants to change that. The country’s fertilizer consumption surged by an average of 10.76% annually between 2017 and 2023, reaching 1.7 million tons last year. Urea alone made up 765,000 tons, or 45% of the total, according to the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC).
This project marks a major step for Ethiopia to secure its fertilizer needs domestically while offering Dangote’s conglomerate an opportunity to expand its fertilizer business beyond Nigeria and tap into a growing market.
This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Lebara Group is now bringing its affordable and reliable mobile services to Africa, starting with Ni...
Transport and food prices have been climbing steadily across Africa in recent years. In Côte d’Ivoir...
• BOAD releases CFA10 billion ($17.8 million) to support Boungou and Wahgnion gold mines.• Burkina F...
In a West African financial landscape marked by tighter regulation of the fintech sector, digital fi...
• Maritime sector faces renewed risks amid military tensions in the Middle East• Blockade fears at S...
• Algeria grants commercial 5G licenses to top three telecom operators: Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo • License award comes on stream as part of the...
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has authorized a $262.3 million disbursement for Ethiopia, taking total payments under Extended Credit...
• ECOWAS Bank funds 47.7-km stretch of strategic 700-km road project• Lagos-Calabar highway seen boosting regional trade and investment• Part of broader...
• IFC teams up with AfDB and Nigeria’s EbonyLife to assess a new fund for African cinema• Sector could grow to $20 bln annually and create 20 mln...
The Gerewol tradition is a fascinating ritual celebrated by the Bororo Fulani, a nomadic community primarily located in Chad and Niger. This annual...
In northern Ethiopia, in the Tigray region, lies Axum (also spelled Aksum), an ancient city that once stood at the heart of one of Africa’s most powerful...