Dangote To Set Up USD 2 Bn Fertiliser Plant In Togo Which Will Rely On Ongoing Urea Plant In Nigeria

Dangote Group recently extended the timeline of the ongoing mega refinery project located at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, to 2021. But the urea and ammonia plants that are being built simultaneously are still on schedule to kick off operations in 2020.

With that in mind, the Togolese government and Aliko Dangote Industries have announced the conclusion of a partnership to develop a phosphate fertilizer processing industry in Togo. The agreement was reached on Thursday, November 7.

Togo is one of the continent’s leading phosphate producers: the country has more than two billion tonnes of phosphate in its subsoil. The country has, thus, joined forces with Dangote Group, which on its part, for its part, will be looking to leverage its future ammonia and urea plant-based in Ijebu-Lekki (Lagos), expected to be commissioned in 2020.

“Ammonia is an essential ingredient in the transformation of phosphate into phosphate fertilizers derived from phosphates,” Dangote said in a statement.

He added: “Togo will provide access to phosphate resources and the Dangote Group will provide access to ammonia and the Nigerian market.

The project will require an estimated USD 2 Bn in investment, which will come from both partners. It should cover part of West Africa’s phosphate fertilizer needs and create several thousand direct jobs. Mining development work is expected to begin before the end of 2019.

Through this development, Togo is hoping to benefit from the investment capacity and expertise of one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Africa.

“By processing our phosphate, we will not only create jobs, but we will also be able to provide our farmers with good quality fertilizers at an affordable cost,” said Togolese President, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé.

Dangote said the partnership with the Togolese government is part of the Group’s transformation agenda, aimed at creating prosperity and strengthening economic development throughout Africa.

Additionally, the Dangote Group has announced that it is setting up a cement production plant in the Togolese capital, Lomé. Construction of the USD 60 Mn facility is slated to kick off in the first half of 2020 and commissioning is expected to take place before the end of next year.