The Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp. (Philphos) will begin a rehabilitation project on July 1 at its plant in Isabel, Leyte, according to the Philippine News Service (PNA). The plant was idled by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
The company has received some US$150 million in insurance proceeds, with a like amount still expected. In the meantime, according to PNA, Philphos Chairman Salvador Zamora has disclosed that Dubai’s G.S. Gupta, Chairman of Agrifields, has also agreed to contribute another $150 million to help restart the facility, which can produce up to 1 million mt/y of phosphate products. In the past, much of the production was used domestically, with the remainder exported.
Zamora is optimistic about the rehab completion, expecting it in early 2019, according to PNA, which reports that the facility would again employ 400.
Sulfuric acid for the plant is expected to come from Leyte-based Philippine Aluminum Smelting & Refining Co. (PASAR). Zamora said PASAR is currently paying $15-$25 per ton to dispose of the acid.