The Dangote Group is reaching a new strategic milestone. The Nigerian conglomerate has signed a 400 million dollar agreement with the Chinese manufacturer XCMG Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. for the acquisition of cutting-edge construction equipment, as part of the acceleration of the expansion of its oil refinery and all of its activities industrial.

At the heart of this operation: the extension of the complex Dangote oil and petrochemical oil, with a current capacity of 650,000 barrels per day will be increased to 1.4 million barrels per day. Once completed, the infrastructure would become the largest refinery in the world in terms of nominal capacity, considerably strengthening the group's industrial weight on the international energy scene.

According to the company, this new equipment will come consolidate its execution capabilities in several strategic segments, including refining, petrochemicals, agriculture and infrastructure. The stated objective is to finalize the expansion of the refinery in a period of three years.

Expansion is not limited to oil. The program forecasts a significant increase in petrochemical production. Polypropylene's annual capacity will increase from 900,000 tons to 2.4 million tons, while urea production in Nigeria will triple, from 3 million to 9 million tons per year. By also integrating its 3 million tons of annual capacity in Ethiopia, the group will consolidate its position the world's largest producer of urea.

The expansion plan also includes an increase of the production of linear alkylbenzene (LAB) at 400,000 tons per year. This capacity building will strengthen the supply of manufacturers of detergents and cleaning products, while positioning Dangote as first African producer of this strategic industrial chemical. Les base oil production capacities will also be increased in order to support the group's industrial diversification.

For Dangote, this agreement with XCMG is a structuring investment aimed at strengthening its integrated value chain and to support its long-term growth strategy. “Equipment additional equipment that we are acquiring as part of this partnership will improve considerably the execution of our projects”, said the company, underlining its ambition to become “the leading construction company in world”.

With this operation, the group confirms its desire to transform its industrial complex into an energy platform and petrochemical of global scope, capable of meeting regional demand and international while consolidating African industrial leadership