ADDIS ABABA – The Ethiopian government in collaboration with OCP Corporation, a Moroccan company, is set to construct a 2.5 billion USD fertilizer plant adjacent to Dire Dawa Industrial Park, said Chemical and Construction Inputs Industry Development Institute.
The plant whose construction starts next year is expected to be completed in four years time and will mainly produce Urea and NPS.
Institute Director General Samuel Halala told The Ethiopian Herald that the plant is part of the government’s projects that are set to boost agricultural productivity.
The factory is expected to fully cover the local demand for fertilizer and create more than one thousand job opportunities.
The fertilizer company which will be among the largest in the country will mainly use natural gas from the Ogaden region.
Samuel also added the factory will have the capacity to produce 1.1 million tons Urea and 1.5 million tons of NPS fertilizer per annum. Apart from meeting domestic demand, it will also export its products.
Currently, the country is importing around two and one million tons of Urea and NPS respectively.
The project will be executed in collaboration with OCP Corporation, a Moroccan Company.
“The main project studies are completed and submitted to Government Development Enterprises.” Accordingly, the committee which is set by Prime Minster Abiy Ahmed is finalizing the specific details of the investment process to sign the commercial agreement between OCP Group and the Ethiopian government.
It is to be recalled the government of Morocco signed an agreement with Ethiopia to build a fertilizer factory in 2016.
Ethiopia imports over half a billion USD worth of fertilizer every year.
The Ethiopian Herald, July 4/2019
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
