By Ayomide Otitoju
President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has announced plans for a major petrochemical project within the Dangote Refinery complex aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading supplier of key detergent raw materials across Africa.
Dangote disclosed this on Saturday while addressing journalists during a tour of the refinery by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari.
He revealed that the planned Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) plant will have a production capacity of 400,000 tonnes per annum, a scale he said would be sufficient to meet demand across the African continent and significantly surpass existing facilities.
According to him, the only comparable LAB plants in Africa are located in Algeria, with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes, and Egypt, with 50,000 tonnes. He added that the new facility is expected to be delivered within the next 30 months.
Dangote explained that the refinery complex is expanding beyond fuel production into a broader industrial and petrochemical hub, with projects designed to deepen local value chains and reduce import dependence.
“This is not just a refinery; it is an industrial hub,” he said, noting that the NNPC is also expected to partner in aspects of the development.
The project focuses on producing linear alkylbenzene, the primary feedstock used in manufacturing surfactants — the active cleaning agents in detergents — rather than finished consumer detergent brands.
The LAB facility forms part of the Dangote Group’s broader strategy to strengthen its oil, gas and petrochemical operations, complementing its investments in refining, fertiliser production and other industrial activities. The conglomerate maintains a diversified portfolio spanning cement, fertiliser, agriculture, food processing, logistics and packaging.
