Dangote Fertiliser Limited is embarking on a multi-billion-dollar expansion with the strategic goal of becoming the world’s largest producer of urea, a critical component for agricultural growth.

The company has entered into a major agreement with Thyssenkrupp Uhde, a German specialist in chemical process engineering, to significantly boost its production capacity at the Lekki, Lagos complex.

This move underscores the Dangote Group’s broad strategy to strengthen its industrial footprint across Africa, spanning energy, cement, and petrochemicals.

The expansion involves the installation of four new urea granulation units, each with a substantial capacity of 4,235 metric tons per day.

These units will leverage Thyssenkrupp’s advanced, low-emission UFT Fluid Bed Granulation Technology, a system that already accounts for over 70 percent of global urea granulation capacity.

By integrating this technology, which also includes an innovative ammonia-conversion system to eliminate waste byproducts, Dangote Fertiliser will ensure its operations meet global standards for efficiency and environmental performance.

Upon completion, this addition will propel Dangote Fertiliser’s total annual output from its current 2.65 million tons to over 8 million tons of urea per year.

This scale-up is expected to surpass the production capacity of the current largest global players, fulfilling Aliko Dangote’s stated ambition to position Nigeria not just to meet its domestic fertilizer needs but to become a major powerhouse in the global agricultural supply chain, earning valuable foreign exchange through expanded exports to markets in Africa, South America, and Asia.

This massive agricultural investment is directly aligned with the Nigerian government’s drive toward agricultural self-sufficiency and food security.

The partnership with a reputable German firm highlights a shared vision for sustainable industrial development.

As President Aliko Dangote noted, the project reaffirms his group’s commitment to Africa’s industrial transformation, signaling a clear plan to reduce the continent’s historic dependence on foreign imports for essential commodities.

SOURCE: BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA