Skip to main content

Nitrogen+Syngas 399 Jan-Feb 2026

Dangote planning two massive new ammonia-urea complexes


NIGERIA

Dangote planning two massive new ammonia-urea complexes

Dangote Fertilizer, Africa’s leading fertilizer producer, has awarded contracts to several major companies for the provision of licenses and technical expertise for the development of two new planned ammonia-urea complexes, one in Nigeria and the other in Ethiopia, as well as the provision of basic engineering and design services for the related plants.

The Nigerian operation envisages for new ammonia-urea trains. Saipem has been selected to provide its proprietary Snamprogetti urea technology, as well as process engineering services including all technical documentation required for the construction of the urea units, each with a record capacity of 4,235 t/d, for a total of 16,940 t/d (5.6 million t/a). thyssenkrupp Uhde Fertilizer Technology (UFT) will also license its UFT® fluid bed granulation technology for the urea plants. Topsoe will supply licenses for the four 2,500 t/d gas-based ammonia units which will feed the urea plants. The new trains will be built at Dangote’s existing Lekki facility near Lagos, which already operates 3 million t/a of urea capacity.

Additionally, a complex in Ethiopia is planned to include two more 2,500 t/d Topsoe ammonia plants, with 3 million t/a of downstream urea capacity licensed by Saipem. Saipem and Dangote Fertilizer have signed a letter of intent for front end engineering design (FEED) services relating the new complex in Ethiopia, developed in partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings for the construction of a plant at Gode, in the Somali region of the country.

Latest in Africa

Electrolyser contract signed for green ammonia project

Chinese companies Sungrow Hydrogen and CRRC Zhuzhou say that they have secured electrolyser supply contracts for the first phase of a geothermal-powered hydrogen and ammonia project in Olkaria, Kenya, developed by Chinese firm Kaishan Group. Kaishan signed a steam supply agreement with state utility KenGen in October 2025, under which KenGen will supply steam from existing geothermal wells for Kaishan to generate 165MW of electricity to power the electrolysers. Chinese firm Wuhuan Engineering is serving as engineering, procurement and construction contractor. Works on the site began in November 2025.

MoU for green ammonia hub

Abu Qir Fertilizers & Chemicals, Alexandria Fertilizers, Orascom Construction SAE, and Green Hydrogen Development Holding, a subsidiary of China’s United Energy Group (UEG), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the development of a Mediterranean green hydrogen hub in Alexandria. The proposed project would centre on a large-scale green hydrogen facility powered by wind and solar, with output integrated into existing ammonia infrastructure in the region. Under the agreement, UEG and Orascom will lead feasibility studies covering 500 MW of renewable energy generation and green hydrogen production, while Abu Qir and Alexfert will assess integration into ammonia operations and support access to local infrastructure.

Green ammonia project advances into FEED phase

Egypt’s $873 million green ammonia project in New Damietta has entered the front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase, with pre-FEED studies for the marine jetty and hydrogen plant already completed, Zawya reported 7 April, citing a statement by the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM). The project is being developed by Damietta Green Ammonia (DGA), a joint venture between Norway’s Scatec, ECHEM and Misr Fertilizers Production Company (MOPCO). FEED work on ammonia export facilities is ongoing, while major permits and financing arrangements are still being finalised.