Dangote Industries Limited has entered a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. of Japan and Singapore-based consulting firm AAIC Holdings to accelerate Nigeria’s—and Africa’s—push into higher-value petrochemicals. The collaboration was announced on the sidelines of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), held in Yokohama from August 20–22, 2025.
What the deal covers
- Scope: A comprehensive partnership exploring technology transfer, licensing, and potential joint ventures spanning plastics, resins, and fertilisers—leveraging feedstock from Dangote’s 650,000 barrels-per-day integrated refinery and petrochemical complex in Lagos.
- Facilitator: AAIC Holdings is participating as a strategic advisor and facilitator for market entry, deal structuring, and execution across African markets.
- Status: The parties have signed an MoU and will now conduct feasibility studies and commercial evaluations on technology options and product slates before moving to definitive agreements.
Why it matters
- Industrial upgrading: The partnership targets a shift from fuels to value-added petrochemicals, enabling local production of inputs for packaging, automotive, construction, and agriculture (through fertiliser). This supports Nigeria’s import substitution and export diversification drive.
- Supply security: By tapping on-site refinery feedstock, Dangote can stabilise supply for downstream chemical units, improving plant economics and reliability.
- Skills & technology transfer: Mitsui Chemicals brings established process know-how and global market access—critical for quality, efficiency, and compliance standards in resins and specialty chemicals.
