Dangote Group Unveils Massive Detergent Raw Material Plant to Transform African Industry
Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, has announced ambitious plans to establish a large-scale petrochemical facility in Nigeria, focused on producing key raw materials for detergent manufacturing. This strategic move aims to position Nigeria as a dominant supplier across Africa, challenging established multinational corporations such as Unilever and PZ Cussons.
Project Details and Capacity
The new plant, located within the expansive Dangote Refinery complex, is projected to have an annual production capacity of 400,000 tonnes of linear alkylbenzene, commonly known as LAB. This chemical serves as the primary feedstock for surfactants, which are essential active cleaning agents in detergents. Dangote disclosed these plans on Saturday, February 21, 2026, during a refinery tour led by Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
Currently, Africa's existing LAB production is limited, with Algeria operating a 100,000-tonne facility and Egypt managing a 50,000-tonne plant. The Dangote plant will more than double the combined output of these facilities, significantly boosting the continent's detergent manufacturing capacity. This increase is expected to meet the raw material needs of detergent producers across Africa, reducing reliance on imports from outside the continent and strengthening regional supply chains.
Strategic Industrial Expansion
Dangote emphasized that the refinery complex is evolving beyond fuel production into an integrated industrial and petrochemical hub. He stated, "This is not just a refinery," highlighting the group's strategy to deepen Nigeria's industrial base. By producing critical industrial inputs locally, the project aligns with broader efforts to reduce import dependency, potentially lowering production costs, stabilizing supply, and enhancing pricing competitiveness for locally made cleaning products.
The initiative also involves collaboration with NNPC within the complex, described as a shared industrial space to support further expansion in petrochemicals and related industries. This move is part of Dangote Group's wider expansion in oil, gas, and petrochemicals, complementing its existing refining and fertilizer operations. The conglomerate's diversified portfolio spans cement manufacturing, agriculture, food processing, packaging, and logistics, with this new plant signaling an ambition to extend its influence into consumer goods supply chains without producing finished detergent brands.
Impact on African Manufacturing Dynamics
By focusing on raw material supply rather than retail products, Dangote Group positions itself as a strategic supplier to manufacturers across Africa, including both multinational brands and emerging local players. If completed within the projected 30-month timeline, the 400,000-tonne plant could shift Africa's detergent manufacturing dynamics, anchoring supply within Nigeria and reinforcing the country's status as a major industrial powerhouse on the continent.
The Dangote Refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is already recognized as Africa's largest single-train petroleum refinery. It serves as a full-scale industrial engine, producing fuels and petrochemicals critical for transportation, manufacturing, and household consumption. This new detergent raw material plant further underscores its role in transforming Nigeria into a key industrial hub, reducing import dependency and stabilizing supply chains across multiple sectors.
