After building a major industrial base in Nigeria and committing billions of dollars to energy and fertiliser projects in East Africa, Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote is exploring Egypt as the next frontier for his continental expansion.
- Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote is considering expanding into Egypt to extend his group’s industrial operations across Africa.
- Dangote Group has already committed billions to energy and fertiliser projects in Nigeria and East Africa.
- During a high-level Egyptian delegation’s visit to Lagos, discussions were held about potential industrial collaborations and partnerships.
- Egyptian officials expressed interest in Dangote’s expertise in refining, petrochemicals, and fertiliser production.
The potential move would extend Dangote Group’s reach into North Africa, adding to its ambitions in refining, petrochemicals and fertiliser production across the continent.
In Kenya, Dangote is developing a planned $16 billion refinery in Lamu, designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The project, which includes a 1,000-megawatt power plant and petrochemical facilities, broke ground on September 30, 2026.
In Ethiopia, the group is developing a fertiliser complex in Gode, with its planned investment rising from an initial $2.5 billion to more than $4 billion. The facility is designed to produce three million tonnes of urea annually.
Egypt emerges as the next expansion frontier
BusinessDay reported on November 3 that Dangote was exploring investments in Egypt following a visit to the group’s Lagos industrial complex by a delegation led by Mohamed Farid Saleh, Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade.
The delegation, which included officials from Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and senior oil and petrochemical executives, held discussions with Dangote Group on industrial collaboration, investment partnerships and capacity expansion.
Saleh said Cairo wanted to explore Dangote’s capabilities in refining, petrochemicals, fertiliser production and related manufacturing. He pointed to the combined market of about 400 million people in Nigeria and Egypt as a foundation for deeper industrial cooperation.
Asked whether Egypt would welcome a Dangote refinery, Saleh said collaboration did not have to be limited to refining, noting that several sectors could offer opportunities.
Dangote described the engagement as an example of African economic integration, saying businesses on the continent must invest across borders to accelerate industrialisation.
No specific investment amount, project or timeline has been disclosed for Egypt.
The discussions could, however, open another front in Dangote’s effort to build a cross-border industrial business spanning West, East and North Africa.
