Dangote Refinery, fertiliser growth to make use of over 90,000 in Lagos

President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has stated over 90,000 individuals are anticipated to be working on the group’s petroleum refinery & petrochemicals and fertiliser operations in Lagos subsequent yr, because the group accelerates investments to create jobs, strengthen industrial manufacturing and remodel agriculture throughout Africa.

Dangote, who disclosed this in an interview, additionally unveiled plans to ascertain 20 fertiliser mixing crops in strategic places throughout the continent to enhance farmers’ entry to important inputs and assist year-round provide. The tasks type a part of an funding programme that might attain $65 billion over 4 years, spanning refining, fertiliser, petrochemicals, energy, pipelines and different companies.

“The refinery expansion is huge. By next year, we expect to have almost 90,000 people working on the refinery and fertiliser projects in Lagos,” he stated.

Dangote stated creating alternatives for Africa’s youthful inhabitants was a central motivation for the group’s growth, stressing that the continent wanted extra factories and larger home manufacturing to satisfy its rising wants.

“My biggest concern is job creation in Africa. We have a very youthful population, and we are not creating enough jobs. We must push harder to create opportunities and keep our young people productively engaged,” he stated.

The refinery growth will add one other 700,000 barrels per day of processing capability, taking the deliberate whole to about 1.4 million barrels per day, alongside extra petrochemical services and infrastructure. Beyond power, Dangote outlined a fertiliser growth programme designed to assist flip Africa’s agricultural potential into larger manufacturing, extra dependable meals provides and financial alternatives.

“We also plan to establish 20 blending plants in strategic locations across Africa. We intend to begin mining potash and phosphate in Congo-Brazzaville very soon,” he stated.

He disclosed that the group was working in the direction of 9 million tonnes of urea capability, with plans for 1.2 million tonnes of diammonium phosphate, DAP, and a million tonnes of NPK mixing capability in Lagos. Dangote stated the target was to make sure that farmers in international locations internet hosting the group’s operations, in addition to neighbouring markets, might get hold of fertiliser when wanted, with out the uncertainty related to prolonged import and supply processes.

“What we want is for the countries where we operate, and their neighbours, to have fertiliser available 365 days a year. Farmers should be able to buy it when they need it, without worrying about supply,” he stated.

Citing Ethiopia, he defined that fertiliser imports needed to cross by way of Djibouti earlier than being transported inland, creating logistical challenges that might go away provides arriving after the planting season. “With local production, the fertiliser will be available there. We will also have one million tonnes of NPK capacity attached to the project,” he stated.

Dangote linked the programme to his dedication that Africa ought to construct the capability to satisfy its personal agricultural enter necessities, somewhat than stay weak to disruptions in worldwide markets.

“At the beginning of the Russia–Ukraine crisis, the African Union went to Russia to plead for fertiliser. I said then that, within four years, Africa should never again have to go anywhere to beg for fertiliser,” he stated.

He expressed confidence that adequate entry to fuel would allow a a lot bigger growth in fertiliser manufacturing. “If Africa needs 30 million tonnes and we can secure enough gas, we can produce and supply it,” he stated.

“Africa has an enormous agricultural advantage. We must lead the effort to turn that opportunity into a major agricultural transformation.”

The group’s wider funding programme consists of an preliminary ambition to develop 10,000 megawatts of energy with some African international locations and improve cement capability to 100 million tonnes. Dangote stated dependable electrical energy was important to industrial progress, enabling African international locations to course of their uncooked supplies, retain extra worth inside their economies and create alternatives for his or her folks. He disclosed that roughly $50 billion of the deliberate funding would go into current companies, whereas one other $15 billion could be directed in the direction of new ventures, together with tasks but to be introduced. The programme could be financed by way of a mix of free money circulate, internally generated fairness and debt, he stated.

Dangote urged African traders to take the lead in growing the continent, arguing that substantial home funding would encourage worldwide capital to observe.

“I am tired of hearing about ‘potential’. We have been talking about Africa’s potential for decades. But Africans themselves must invest in their continent,” he stated. “What gives other investors comfort and confidence is seeing us put our own money on the table. That is what we are trying to do. We are demonstrating that we are serious.”

He argued that sustained funding by African companies was important to unlocking the continent’s industrial and agricultural alternatives, whereas giving worldwide traders the boldness to take part.

“Governments are always calling for foreign investors. But what attracts a foreign investor is a domestic investor,” he stated. “We must demonstrate that we are doing something substantial in Africa so that others can join us.”