OCP Logistic Development

An ambitious and innovative project: a pipeline to connect the Khouribga mining site with the Jorf Lasfar recovery facilities In May 2010, a credit agreement of 240 million euros was signed with the French Development Agency (AFD) to cover an estimated 55 percent of the project’s investment cost, with the remaining funds provided by OCP. The main pipeline and its tributaries have a total length of 250 kilometers. The goal is to transport, by wet processing, all of the phosphate mined in Khouribga and sent to chemical plants or the port of Jorf Lasfar to be converted into phosphoric acid and DAP, or exported, respectively. At stake, water savings (eliminating the drying required for rail transport) and energy savings, which reduce transportation costs to one dollar per ton of phosphate from the current rate of seven to eight dollars. In terms of logistics, this upstream-downstream integration will allow the washing plant built at the mine to enrich the ore while preparing it for transport. The pulp of prepared phosphate will be stored in tanks at the exits of the washing plants and then pumped through secondary pipelines to a collection station located near MEA, which is referred to as the head station. From there, the phosphate pulp will be fed into the main pipeline that provides hydraulic transport from Khouribga to Jorf Lasfar. At this site, a terminal station comprised of storage tanks will be utilized for the reception and distribution of the phosphate pulp. The pipeline is scheduled to be operational in April 2013. Distribution: Port installations for reliable delivery to clients worldwide OCP ships treated phosphate through the ports of Casablanca, Laayoune, Safi and Jorf Lasfar. The last two are also used for exporting fertilizers (in bulk or in bags), phosphoric acid and purified phosphoric acid, as well as for importing raw materials (sulfur, ammonia, potash, caustic soda, sulfuric acid). These multiple points of embarkation provide flexibility and security of supply to our company’s clients. The ports of Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar and Safi are State-owned, but OCP has equipped certain areas for our specific operational needs. By contrast, the Laayoune Wharf has been owned by us since 1967. This structure, 3,200 meters long, was built with prefabricated elements and is shaped like a bridge over the sea. Perpendicular to the coast, it supports the entire industrial infrastructure used to operate on the Boucraa-Laayoune site. It consists of a dock terminal for loading ships with phosphate and an intermediate dock for unloading ships carrying heavy crude oil intended for the processing plant. The draft is 17 meters, which allows for the docking of ships carrying 70,000 tons (tons of dry finished product and merchandise) of cargo.