Expansion Project Aims to Strengthen Africa’s Chemical Manufacturing Capacity
Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery is advancing plans to build a major Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) production facility, marking a significant expansion of its downstream petrochemicals business and strengthening Africa’s chemical manufacturing capabilities.
The proposed facility will have a production capacity of approximately 400,000 tonnes per year, positioning it among the largest LAB projects globally and significantly increasing the continent’s domestic production capacity.
Expanding Africa’s LAB Production Base
LAB is a critical raw material used in the manufacture of detergents, cleaning products, and surfactants. Demand for the chemical continues to grow across Africa as population growth, urbanisation, and rising household consumption drive increased use of cleaning products.
Currently, Africa has limited LAB production capacity, with only a small number of facilities serving regional demand. As a result, many countries rely heavily on imports from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Dangote’s planned facility is expected to substantially reduce this dependency by supplying a significant portion of the continent’s requirements through local production.
Strengthening Regional Supply Chains
The project forms part of Dangote Refinery’s broader strategy to expand beyond fuel production into higher-value petrochemical products.
Industry analysts believe the additional LAB capacity could improve regional supply security, reduce import costs, and support the development of downstream manufacturing industries across Africa.
The investment may also strengthen Nigeria’s position as a key chemical manufacturing hub within the region.
Strategic Partnerships and Technology Support
Dangote and Petrochemicals FZE have partnered with Honeywell UOP to support the project. The US-based company will provide process technology and catalysts for both the LAB facility and a separate propylene production unit.
The collaboration is expected to help ensure operational efficiency, product quality, and long-term competitiveness for the planned facilities.
By leveraging advanced production technologies, the project aims to meet growing market demand while supporting future expansion opportunities.
Looking Ahead
Demand for detergents, cleaning products, and related surfactants is expected to continue rising across Africa over the coming decade.
The proposed LAB facility represents a major step toward building a stronger regional chemicals industry, reducing reliance on imports, and supporting economic development through local manufacturing.
If completed as planned, the project could become one of the most important petrochemical investments in Africa’s recent history and play a significant role in shaping the continent’s future chemical supply chain.