Office Chérifien de Phosphates (OCP) — Morocco’s
state owned phosphate producer and world’s leading exporter is a key factor in
the Moroccan economy as it contributes more than 4 percent to the country’s
GDP.
OCP is the second world’s largest producer of phosphate rock (the
Chinese are the first) and ranks fifth among the main phosphoric acid makers, and
had close to 8 million tonnes of granulation capacity in 2015.
Looking at the company’s activity, it is
interesting to observe that on one hand since 2011 they have engaged into a massive multi-billion dollar
expansion and modernization plan, but on the other OCP is currently receiving
40% less for its output than it did four years ago.
Between 2016 and 2020, OCP plans to commission four phosphate
complexes, each with a one million tonnes granulation capacity, at its Jorf
Phosphate Hub. In early 2016, OCP announced the project for a one million tonnes
granulation facility in Phosboucraa, in the political disputed Western Sahara, for
completion in 2020. A key element in OCP’s plans to expand its phosphate rock
mining capacity from 30 million to 55 million mt/y has been the construction of
the 187km long pipeline from Khourigba, inland, to the port and fertilizer production
complex at Jorf Lasfar. Capable of handling 38 million mt/y of phosphate rock
slurry, the pipeline has cut the company’s logistics costs by 90% while saving
some 3 million m3 of water a year.
OCP accounts for some 28% of global phosphate exports in all forms,
with mining capacities in excess of 32 million tonnes p.a. The company plans to
expand its mining capacity over the next ten years, with the objective of
reaching an effective capacity of 55 Mt in the longer term. Expansions are
taken place in the main mining centers of Khouribga and Gantour. In the long term,
the company will open new mines on the Meskala deposit (Essaouira Region), to
feed downstream capacity projects at its Safi Phosphate Hub. A key feature of
these projects is the expansion of floatation capacity, allowing OCP to further
extract and process lower grades of phosphate ore. The bulk of the projected
increase in production of phosphate concentrates would be earmarked for captive
uses at OCP various Hubs. It has been reported that OCP plans to increase its
phosphoric acid capacity from its current 4.7 millions of tonnes of P205 to 7.8
million in 2020.
