BEIJING (Dawan Africa) – Djibouti has signed a landmark $38 million tripartite agreement in Beijing with two Chinese companies to scale up salt production at Lake Assal, one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world.
The deal was concluded on Wednesday between Djibouti’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Yonis Ali Guedi, Salt Investment S.A. — a subsidiary of China’s construction giant CCCC — and Beijing China-Mining Jinfa Technology Co. Ltd (CMJF). According to the Ministry of Energy, the agreement is designed to gradually transform Lake Assal into a major hub for industrial and food-grade salt production, positioning Djibouti as a regional salt exporter.
Three-Phase Expansion
The project will roll out in three phases. The first, worth $9 million, will modernize equipment and build a new plant capable of producing 500,000 tonnes of industrial salt and 20,000 tonnes of food salt within a year. The second stage, backed by $18 million, will expand capacity to one million tonnes of industrial salt and 50,000 tonnes of food salt. The final phase, with an $11 million investment, will push total production to more than two million tonnes of industrial salt annually.
Minister Guedi hailed the agreement as a turning point for Djibouti’s mineral industry. “This accord will transform the salt sector into a dynamic, sustainable, and beneficial driver of our national economy. We call for swift implementation of the works,” he said.
Strategic Partnership
CCCC’s Director General, Cheng Tiancheng, described the deal as a “win-win strategic partnership” and underlined China’s ambition to make Lake Assal the largest salt production site in East Africa.
Located 155 meters below sea level in the Tadjourah desert, Lake Assal is already exploited for salt and bromides. Djiboutian authorities view this new deal as an opportunity to strengthen the country’s position in regional and global markets while creating jobs at home.
The signing ceremony took place at the Beijing headquarters of CCCC and CURG, attended by senior Chinese executives and Djiboutian officials.
