Spanish engineering company Técnicas Reunidas has secured a contract from Nigeria-based Dangote Group to supply two hydrogen production reformers for its planned ammonia and urea fertiliser complex in Gode, Ethiopia.
The contract covers the design, procurement, manufacturing and free-on-board (FOB) supply of the two reformers, which will have a combined hydrogen production capacity of more than 200,000 Nm³ per hour. The equipment is scheduled to be supplied within a maximum period of 18 months.
The project will support hydrogen production for the ammonia manufacturing process, which provides the feedstock for urea fertiliser production.
Natural gas to supply hydrogen for fertiliser production
Dangote is developing the fertiliser complex in Gode, in Ethiopia’s Somali Region, with the objective of using the country’s natural gas reserves to manufacture urea domestically.
The facility is designed to produce 3 million tonnes of urea annually. It is expected to help reduce Ethiopia’s reliance on imported fertilisers and foreign currency expenditure while strengthening domestic agricultural input supplies. The project is also intended to serve demand in neighbouring markets.
Ethiopia’s government and Dangote Group launched the project in October 2025. The development is being undertaken through a partnership between Dangote Group and state-owned Ethiopian Investment Holdings.
The hydrogen required for ammonia production will be generated using the reformers supplied under the Técnicas Reunidas contract. The company will execute the order through TR-Tecnical, its division specialising in the design and supply of heat-transfer equipment.
Topsoe to provide reformer technology
Danish process technology company Topsoe has been selected as the technology licensor for the reformers.
Técnicas Reunidas will be responsible for the engineering and equipment supply scope, including design, procurement and manufacturing, before delivering the units on an FOB basis. The contract announcement did not disclose its financial value.
Técnicas Reunidas expands its hydrogen project portfolio in Africa
The Ethiopia contract adds to Técnicas Reunidas’ recent activity in Africa. The company has also announced an engineering services award for a large green hydrogen project in South Africa.
The two developments broaden its involvement in hydrogen-related infrastructure across the continent, spanning both conventional hydrogen production equipment for the fertiliser industry and engineering services for a renewable hydrogen project.
The company said the new contract strengthens its position in hydrogen production equipment and derivatives, while expanding its opportunities in Africa’s energy and fertiliser sectors.
Bioenergy Business Analysis
The Gode project demonstrates the important role hydrogen plays in fertiliser manufacturing. However, the project’s hydrogen production pathway should be distinguished from renewable hydrogen. The announced plant is intended to use Ethiopia’s natural gas reserves, and the reformers will produce hydrogen for the ammonia process.
The announcement does not specify carbon capture and storage or another emissions-reduction system. It would therefore be premature to describe the hydrogen as green or low-carbon.
For Técnicas Reunidas, the contract represents an equipment supply opportunity linked to a major industrial project in East Africa. For Ethiopia, the fertiliser complex is part of a broader effort to develop domestic manufacturing capacity and reduce dependence on imported agricultural inputs.
