Iraq has reopened two newly refurbished fertilizer plants in Basra, southern Iraq, according to an Iraq Business report. The official reopening was performed by the country’s Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, on March 9.
The two production facilities, one for DAP and the other for urea, have been out of operation since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Following the refurbishment work, the urea facility has production capacity for 1,000 mt/d while the DAP plant has capacity for 500,000 mt/y, according to the report. According to the company, production capacity will be ultimately expanded to 1 million mt/y of DAP.
Both plants are managed by the General Company for Southern Fertilizers, which is part of the Ministry of Industry and Minerals.
Two international companies carried out the revamp work. British-Iraqi company AAA Holding Group was contracted to undertake the work on the DAP plant (GM July 28, 2023). The report did not identify the company that undertook the revamp of the urea facility.
Shia’ Al Sudani, as cited by the report, said the output of the new plants will be sufficient to meet the demand of local farmers and will eliminate the need for imports. The new fertilizer supply marks a critical step towards enhancing the support for Iraq’s agricultural sector, which is pivotal for the country’s sustainability and food security, he said.
Phosphate rock feedstock for the DAP plant is reportedly being supplied from domestic deposits in the west of Iraq. The country has the world’s second-largest phosphate reserves, according to Iraqi Geological Survey Commission data posted on the organization’s website.
Last month, Iraq was reported to be planning to renew its request for bids from both local and international companies to build a phosphate plant in the western part of the country in a project estimated to be valued at $3 billion, according to Bloomberg (GM Feb. 23, p. 33).