The Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote has begun contracting international firms to assist in building the world’s largest fertilizer complex. The project will bring together major firms from India, Germany Italy, and the Netherlands. It follows his announcement to expand his 650,000 barrel/day oil refinery, currently the world’s seventh largest, to the world’s largest by expanding its capacity to 1.4 million bpd.
The project is part of the company’s long-term plan to strengthen regional food security, enhance agricultural productivity, and deepen Africa’s position as a global fertilizer supplier.
“Through these strategic partnerships, Dangote Group will increase its urea production capacity in Nigeria from the current 3 million metric tons to 9 million metric tons annually. The existing facility operates two trains with a combined capacity of 3 million metric tons. The expansion will introduce four additional trains, enabling the Group to meet the rising demand for high quality fertilizer across Africa and global markets,” the company writes.
“In addition to the Nigerian expansion, the Group recently held the groundbreaking ceremony for a $2.5 billion fertilizer plant in Gode, Ethiopia. The facility is designed to produce 3 million metric tons of urea annually,” the company said in the Nov. 27 statement.
The mega project will represent a multinational effort. The world-class Indian engineering firm Engineers India Limited will act as project management consultant and engineering procurement and construction management consultant for the four fertilizer plants being developed by Dangote Fertiliser Limited in Lekki, Nigeria, bringing expertise in large-scale industrial project delivery.
The Danish company Topsoe and Italian oil infrastructure firm Saipem will provide technology licensing and complete process design packages for six ammonia plants: four in Nigeria and two in Ethiopia.
German firm Thyssenkrupp’s UFT division will supply the granulation technology license and complete process design package for granulation units in the six fertilizer plants.
Dangote’s refinery, petrochemical and fertilizer complex shows how Africa is capable of managing mega projects, as well as providing tremendous opportunities for Europe’s and other countries’ world-class firms. This is especially true for Europe, whose current policies are deindustrializing the continent, while industrial capabilities are so greatly needed in the Global South.
