Morocco’s phosphate giant, OCP Group, and Ghana’s government have completed the initial studies, known as front end engineering design (FEED), relating to the construction of a $1.3 billion fertilizer complex in Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana.
The project is scheduled for three years’ time and aims to help increase fertilizer availability in the African country as well as reduce input costs for farmers.
The plant is also expected to contribute to the country’s efforts to boost the industrialization of the agriculture sector.
Commenting on the project, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Gas Company Limited (GNGC), Dr Ben Asante, told the Daily Graphic in Houston, Texas, that the project is set to yield a production input of one million tonnes of fertilizer as a start.
Asante explained that the project was launched following the signing of a tripartite agreement between the Ghanaian Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Under the agreement, the Ghana Gas company would provide the necessary gas while OCP Group of Morocco would provide the necessary funds.
The official further explained that the plant is set to use between 80 million standard cubic feet (scf) and 100 million scf of natural gas to produce fertilizers. The venture is set to reduce the country’s annual imports of fertilizers by $400 million.
Morocco’s (OCP) and the Ghanaian government first signed the agreement to build the fertilizer plant in September 2019.
The Moroccan company said then that the plant is part of its vision to boost South-South cooperation and become a key player in the African fertilizer’s market.
