LAGOS — Aliko Dangote has officially unveiled plans for a massive petrochemical expansion that will see the Dangote Refinery evolve into Africa’s primary producer of detergent raw materials. By manufacturing Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB)—the essential ingredient that creates the “bubbles” and cleaning power in detergents—the complex is moving to replace 100% of West Africa’s current imports.
The project, announced on February 21, 2026, represents a direct challenge to the supply chains of multinational giants like Unilever and PZ Cussons, who have historically relied on foreign feedstocks to produce their soaps and cleaning agents.
Doubling the Continent’s Output
The scale of the new plant is designed to achieve continental dominance. With a capacity of 400,000 tonnes annually, the Nigerian facility will dwarf the combined output of Africa’s current producers.
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Algeria: 100,000 tonnes/year
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Egypt: 50,000 tonnes/year
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Dangote (Nigeria): 400,000 tonnes/year (Projected)
Timeline and Industrial Impact
The facility is slated for completion within 30 months (approximately late 2028). However, its impact on the industrial landscape is already being felt:
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Import Substitution: Currently, nearly 100% of the surfactants used in West Africa are imported. This plant aims to flip that ratio entirely.
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Lower Consumer Prices: By producing LAB locally, manufacturers can avoid the high foreign exchange costs and logistics delays associated with importing raw materials from Asia or Europe.
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The “Industrial Hub” Shift: As Aliko Dangote noted during the refinery tour with NNPCL’s Bayo Ojulari, the complex is no longer just a fuel plant; it is a “Petrochemical Ecosystem” integrating fuel, fertilizer, polypropylene, and now household chemicals.
“We evaluate business opportunities by what demand is driven by pure population… detergents should not be luxury items,” stated David Bird, CEO of Dangote Refinery.
The LAB Value Chain: From Crude to Clean
The production of LAB is a sophisticated midstream process that turns refinery byproducts into consumer value:
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Feedstock: Kerosene and Benzene are extracted during the crude refining process.
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Synthesis: These are processed in the LAB plant to create Linear Alkyl Benzene.
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Sulfonation: Detergent manufacturers (like Unilever) convert LAB into Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS)—the active surfactant.
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Finished Product: LAS is blended into the soaps and powders found on Nigerian shelves.
Summary: Dangote’s Detergent Play
| Metric | Detail |
| Product | Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) |
| Capacity | 400,000 Metric Tonnes per Annum |
| Target Completion | 30 Months (August 2028) |
| Strategic Goal | Total import substitution for West Africa |
| Market Impact | Potential price reduction for household cleaning products |
