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President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has broken ground on a $2.5 billion fertiliser complex in Gode, southeastern Ethiopia, marking one of the continent’s most ambitious industrial investments.
According to a statement from Dangote Group, the project is a joint venture between the conglomerate and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH). Designed to produce up to three million metric tonnes of urea annually, the plant is expected to rank among the world’s largest fertiliser facilities once completed.
Strategically situated near the Hilal and Calub gas reserves, the plant will utilise Ethiopia’s natural gas resources to expand agricultural output, generate employment, and strengthen food security across the Horn of Africa. The statement described the venture as a “transformative catalyst” for regional growth and cross-border trade.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed characterised the project as a symbol of cooperation and peace, noting that its significance extended beyond industrial progress. He said the partnership reflected Ethiopia’s determination to harness domestic resources responsibly while asserting its growing influence on the global stage.
Officials close to the Prime Minister said Abiy urged citizens to unite behind projects that drive inclusive development and project Ethiopia’s identity as a nation of resilience and innovation.
Dangote, in turn, commended Abiy Ahmed’s administration for its ongoing reforms and liberalisation policies, which have opened strategic sectors to private investment. He highlighted Ethiopia’s infrastructure expansion—from power and transport networks to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam—as evidence of a government committed to long-term industrialisation.
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Company sources quoted Dangote as describing the Gode facility as “a cornerstone in Africa’s pursuit of food independence and sustainable growth.” He said the collaboration with EIH aligns with Dangote Group’s continental vision of value addition, job creation, and reduced reliance on imported agricultural inputs.
Ethiopian Investment Holdings has projected that the plant will stimulate ancillary industries and boost export revenues, while also supporting smallholder farmers through increased fertiliser availability.
Analysts view the move as part of a broader shift in Africa’s industrial policy, where homegrown investors are increasingly leading billion-dollar ventures once dominated by foreign multinationals.
If construction proceeds on schedule, the Gode fertiliser complex could position Ethiopia as a regional hub for agro-industrial production—anchoring its economic diversification efforts and reinforcing its status as a rising industrial power in East Africa.
