According to a statement on Sunday, Aliko Dangote, the group’s founder and president, led the groundbreaking ceremony, which took place recently in the East African nation.
The project, a joint venture between the conglomerate and the Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), is expected to have an annual production capacity of three million metric tonnes of urea, positioning it among the largest fertiliser complexes in the world.
“Strategically located in Ethiopia’s South-East region, it 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,” the group said.
“Strategically located in Ethiopia’s South-East region, it 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,” the group said.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali said the project is more than just an industrial progress and reflects shared responsibility, cooperation, and peace.
“They embody our shared responsibility to harness opportunities, strengthen cooperation, and promote peace. Hence, I call upon all Ethiopians to continue mobilizing in unity for progress,” Ali said.
“By doing so, we elevate Ethiopia’s presence on the global stage in a way that honors the true spirit of our Ethiopian identity.”
On his part, Dangote commended the prime minister and his cabinet for reforms and economic liberalisation that have opened key sectors to private capital, positioning Ethiopia as a leading investment destination in Africa.
He also praised the country’s investments in infrastructure — including transport, energy, and the grand Ethiopian renaissance dam — as foundations for industrial transformation.
“This partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings represents a pivotal moment in our shared vision to industrialise Africa and achieve food security across the continent,” Dangote said.
“We are committed to bringing our decades of experience in large-scale industrial projects to ensure this venture becomes a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s industrial transformation.”
The billionaire said the Gode project marks the beginning of plans to produce ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, NPK, and calcium ammonium nitrate, with the aim of making the country a regional fertiliser hub.
The group president said Ethiopia could become Africa’s leading agricultural nation within the next five years.
According to the statement, the investment is Dangote Group’s second major project in Ethiopia.
The firm’s cement subsidiary has operated a 2.5 million tonnes per annum (Mta) plant in Mugher for over a decade, with a further $400 million committed to doubling its capacity.
