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No 'notable disruption' to OCP from Morocco earthquake

  • : Fertilizers
  • 23/09/12

Moroccan phosphates fertilizer major OCP has reported no impact to its facilities following the devastating earthquake that struck the country on 8 September.

The firm's production assets were unaffected by the earthquake, with no "notable disruption" to its production, supply chains or logistical activities, OCP said.

Vessel operations were delayed by less than a day at the firm's Jorf Lasfar Atlantic hub as reported by Argus. Port operations were affected by up to 18 hours in the aftermath of the earthquake, traders said. But loading operations have returned to normal. OCP did not immediately comment on the reported delays.

The Lowlands Alma, which was set to load a combined 35,000t of DAP, MAP and TSP, departed Jorf Lasfar on 10 September, having arrived earlier in the month, vessel tracking data show.

Ammonia vessel the Sombeke arrived at Jorf Lasfar on the morning of 9 September, discharged on 10 September and left the port in the early hours of 11 September.

OCP is the largest phosphates fertilizer producer globally, with a capacity of 12mn-13mn t/yr of DAP, MAP, NP, NPS/NPKs and TSP at its Jorf Lasfar facility.

The earthquake occurred shortly after 22:00 local time (21:00 GMT) on 8 September, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale at a depth of 18.5km, with the epicentre located in the High Atlas mountains, around 70km southwest of Marrakech, according to the UN's Reliefweb hub. The combined toll of those killed and injured in the quake has now reached nearly 6,000.


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