Nutrien told Green Markets on July 3 that it will be closing its phosphate production facility at Geismar, La., by the end of 2018. The company said this is consistent with its phosphate integration plan, and the closure of Geismar is not material to its business.
The legacy PotashCorp facility at Geismar produces 200,000 mt/y of phosphoric acid, and purchases phosphate rock from Moroccan producer OCP SA. Along with the previously announced (GM March 2, p. 1) conversion of the company’s Redwater, Alta., phosphate plant to an ammonium sulfate facility, Nutrien said it will become fully self-sufficient in phosphate rock, and all import contracts will be complete by year-end.
Nutrien CEO Chuck Magro said earlier this year (GM Jan. 26, p. 1) that the company hoped to make a decision on Geismar by the middle of 2018, adding that it was Nutrien’s long-term goal not to have a Western Sahara issue as part of the new company going forward.