The Ethiopian government says it is positioning itself to become a regional fertiliser exporter following a landmark agreement with the Dangote Group to build a massive urea fertiliser plant in Gode, Somali region. The project, estimated at 2.5 billion dollars, is expected to produce up to 3 million metric tonnes of urea annually, making Ethiopia one of the largest urea producers on the continent and a key supplier for neighbouring markets.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described food security as a strategic priority, saying the partnership with Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote reflects a shared vision to boost agricultural productivity and industrialisation. “Our interest is to have him in many areas because he’s delivering. As a government, we want to support him and realise our common vision. It’s a win‑win for both of us,” Abiy said, expressing confidence in the long‑term value of the investment.
For the Dangote Group, the urea plant is part of a broader expansion in Ethiopia that has raised its total declared investment commitment in the country to over 4 billion dollars. The wider investment package includes a 110‑kilometre pipeline to transport natural gas, a 120‑megawatt power plant, a polypropylene packaging facility, and a 2‑million‑tonne NPK blending plant. The company described Ethiopia as one of its most significant investment destinations in Africa and the second‑largest recipient of its capital on the continent.
Ethiopian authorities say the project will help the country achieve self‑sufficiency in fertiliser production, cut import costs, strengthen food security, and create jobs while supporting the government’s industrialisation agenda. With reliable supply from the Gode plant, Ethiopia is expected to not only meet its domestic demand, which runs into millions of tonnes annually, but also to supply markets across East Africa, positioning the country as a regional fertiliser‑production and export hub.