El-Rufai launches 120-ton per hour fertiliser blending plant

An ultramodern fertiliser blending plant and centre of excellence designed to stimulate Nigeria’s agro-value-chain was on Tuesday launched in Kaduna State.

The 120-ton-per-hour fertiliser blending plant was officially launched by the Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

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While commending the management of OCP Africa for what he described as a signature investment, the governor said the reality of the vision is that Kaduna State is a safe place for investors.

In his welcome remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, OCP Africa, Dr Mohamed Anouar Jamali, said the plant is OCP Africa’s first strategic investment in Nigeria.

“The plant is a strategic investment tailored toward strengthening Nigeria’s fertiliser industry. This facility is not just about blending fertilisers but profoundly impacting the country’s agricultural value chain.

“OCP Africa is committed to contributing to the transformation of food systems in the continent, and Nigeria bears a strategic focus for our company. That is why in 2016, we partnered with the Fertiliser Producers & Suppliers Association of Nigeria under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, supported by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority.

“Our collaboration stretched to the entire agricultural value chain—from introducing customised fertilisers adapted to local soils and crops—to supporting local production assets and improving the availability of fertilisers on the local market at competitive prices.

“Our partnership also includes farmer support initiatives and supply chain development projects,” Dr. Jamali said.

Also, the Senior Vice President, OCP Africa, Mr Mohamed Hettiti, who introduced the key features of the blending plant, pointed out that the Kaduna Centre of Excellence has at its core a 120-metric tons per hour process blending plant capable of producing macro and micronutrients as well as a liquid dosing feature.

The Deputy Managing Director, Programme Incubation (W/A), OCP Africa, Mr Caleb Usoh, also disclosed that, “OCP Africa is investing in a joint venture with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to develop an ammonia and DAP industrial plant.

The $1.4 billion industrial plant project, which is sited in Akwa Ibom State, is expected to utilise Nigeria’s gas and Moroccan phosphate to produce 750,000MT of ammonia and 1,000,000MT of phosphate fertiliser.