KEY POINTS

• The Dangote potash mining project could secure fertiliser inputs upstream.
• Congo offers port adjacent deposits attractive to large developers.
• The Dangote potash mining project aligns with Africa fertiliser goals.

Aliko Dangote has asked Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso to support a potash mining venture, signaling a potential expansion into a strategically sensitive resource as Africa’s richest businessman steps up his fertiliser ambitions.

Africa Intelligence reported that Dangote has held discussions with the Congolese head of state over developing the country’s potash deposits, positioning the proposal as part of a broader plan to scale fertiliser production and secure key inputs upstream.

The talks mark a new direction for Dangote, who has built a sprawling industrial empire anchored in cement, sugar and energy. Congo already hosts one of his flagship assets: a 1.5 million-tonne-a-year cement plant near Mfila on the main route linking Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville. The facility, which started operations in 2017, supplies the capital region and cut the country’s reliance on imported cement.

Dangote potash mining project adds strategic layer

Potash would represent a more complex step. As a core ingredient in fertiliser, the mineral carries political and economic weight because of its influence on food prices, agricultural output and foreign exchange balances. Governments usually consider potash as a strategic resource, and mining enterprises generally need to work together with different ministries that are in charge of licenses, infrastructure, electricity, water, and export logistics.

Moreover, Congo has spent years trying to commercialise potash resources in its coastal basin, promoting deposits close to Atlantic ports and established shipping lanes. Kore Potash’s Kola project ranks among the best-known developments. The company also describes the deposit as a series of relatively flat seams lying about 180 to 300 metres below the surface, a profile that developers often view as technically attractive.

Dangote’s approach fits that narrative. He has repeatedly favoured heavy industrial projects near ports and major markets, using scale and logistics to compete on cost.

Dangote potash mining project fits fertiliser expansion

According to Billionaires Africa, interest in Congo’s potash coincides with Dangote’s push to expand fertiliser output from Nigeria. In mid-2025, he said he aimed to make Africa self-sufficient in fertiliser within about 40 months by ramping up production at his urea complex near Lagos, which has capacity of roughly 3 million tonnes a year.

A potash operation in Congo would complement that strategy by adding upstream optionality in a region where fertiliser demand continues to rise but supply chains remain fragile. It would also reduce exposure to imported inputs, strengthening control over costs and availability.

Africa Intelligence reported that discussions have reached the president’s office, though the structure of any deal remains undefined. Early-stage mining talks often stretch over years as governments and investors negotiate concessions, partners and financing.