Hassan
Abbaszadeh, Deputy Petroleum Minister and CEO of the National Petrochemical
Company (NPC), met with Hassan Mohamed Maalin, Ethiopia’s Minister of State for
Industry. During the meeting, Abbaszadeh outlined two options for cooperation:
the establishment of an integrated ammonia-urea complex in Ethiopia contingent
upon gas feedstock availability, or alternatively, the import of ammonia from
Iran for a urea plant in Ethiopia.
He emphasized
that project execution would take approximately three to four years and
confirmed Iran’s readiness to supply ammonia in the interim. Abbaszadeh also
proposed developing a strategic roadmap for the growth of Ethiopia’s
petrochemical industry.
Minister Maalin
expressed appreciation for Iran’s hospitality during the Iran-Africa Summit and
the Iran Expo and reiterated Ethiopia’s immediate need to increase urea imports
from Iran until domestic production becomes viable.
Highlighting
Ethiopia’s heavy reliance on agriculture, Maalin explained that the country
currently imports urea from Morocco, the UAE, and Iran, but faces high costs
due to intermediaries. He welcomed Iran’s engineering capabilities, equipment
supply, and potential investment.
Maalin noted that
Ethiopia aims to become a regional hub for urea exports to neighboring
countries such as Djibouti, Kenya, and Somalia once the complex is operational.
Both sides agreed
to swiftly form a technical and expert working group to conduct a feasibility
study for the project.