Aliko Dangote has announced plans to develop a 20,000-megawatt power project, marking a significant expansion of his business empire beyond oil refining, cement, and fertiliser.
Dangote disclosed the plan during an interview with Makhtar Diop, where he highlighted energy as one of Africa’s most critical needs.
“We are now going into power… 20,000 megawatts,” Dangote said, underscoring the scale of the proposed project.
Although details on financing and timelines were not provided, the planned capacity would have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s power sector.
The country currently has an installed generation capacity of about 13,000MW, much of which remains underutilised due to infrastructure and operational constraints.
Dangote said the expansion aligns with broader efforts to address Africa’s industrial and energy gaps, noting that petroleum products and fertilisers remain essential to the continent’s development.
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He revealed that his group is also scaling up fertiliser production, with plans to reach 12 million tonnes of urea, while expanding into mining operations for potash and phosphate in Congo and Brazil.
In addition, the conglomerate is investing in major infrastructure projects, including a deep-sea port with an 18-metre draft and liquefied natural gas (LNG) development.
Dangote attributed the ambitious expansion plans to improved financial strength, noting that stronger cash flows and increased flexibility have positioned the group to raise additional capital.
“We are now actually free of assets, and we can actually raise more money. Our cash flow now is very, very strong,” he said.
The announcement comes on the heels of the rapid growth of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which currently has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and is being scaled up toward 1.4 million barrels per day.
