OCP Morocco licenses Shell’s sulphur ferts Thiogro technology

LONDON (ICIS)–Moroccan phosphate fertilizer producer Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP) has licensed Shell’s Thiogro technology to produce premium sulphur enhanced fertilizers, Shell announced in a statement on Wednesday.  

“This partnership with Shell will bring us one step closer to achieving our goal of offering farmers a wide selection of customized products tailed to the specific needs of their soils,” said Mustapha El Ouafi, OCP’s Managing Director.

“We look forward to working with Shell as we implement the Thiogro technology which will provide OCP with a new solution to address our customer’s needs for balanced, sulphur-enhanced fertilizers.”

The technology, which is expected to be installed and commissioned in 2017, will enable OCP to produce highly concentrated sulphur-enhanced fertilizer, helping end-users unlock even greater crop yields and improve soil health, according to the press release.

The Shell Thiogro technology will be installed at OCP’s Jorf Lasfar facility in Morocco and will enable the fertilizer major to expand its portfolio by incorporating micron-sized particles of elemental sulphur into its existing ammonium phosphate, NPKs and current sulphur-enhanced products.

Commenting on the license to OCP, Michael Lumley, vice president of Shell Sulphur Solutions said: “We are pleased to license our Shell Thiogro technology to OCP, one of the world’s leading fertilizer producers, who efforts continue to contribute to improved food security in Africa and across the globe.

“Our team of sulphur exports have worked hard to develop a safe and efficient technology for the incorporation of elemental sulphur into fertilizers and we have no doubt that this agreement will have a positive impact for OCP and the farmers they serve.”

Over half of elemental sulphur production is traded internationally, with China being the largest importer followed by Morocco.

Owing to major expansions at Jorf Lasfar in Morocco, OCP expect to import in excess of 5m tonnes of sulphur in 2016.