Vancouver—Great Quest Metals Ltd. has announced that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed retaining the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), Muscle Shoals, Ala., to conduct specific market and technical studies for its Tilemsi Phosphate Project in Mali in West Africa. Great Quest noted that IFDC has extensive knowledge of the fertilizer value chain and various market dynamics in West Africa. The market study will evaluate the current market for phosphate, both as direct application fertilizer and as a component for blended NPK fertilizer. In addition, IFDC will provide ongoing technical assistance for such matters as fertilizer production and the use of suitable technologies. IFDC has also agreed to provide research and conduct pilot plant scale testing programs on the company’s future product strategy. “We are glad to see Great Quest assessing future investment strategies for the Tilemsi phosphate deposit, which we studied and recommended for agronomic use as a local phosphate source back in the 90s,” said Amit Roy, IFDC president and CEO. “At the time, economic considerations (e.g., production and required infrastructure costs) constrained development. However, with today’s higher fertilizer and international transport prices, West African countries with significant phosphate rock resources may wish to revisit options for use of indigenous phosphate rock resources as a phosphate fertilizer. We hope that the signature of this MOU will help reach those objectives for the benefit of the farmers.”
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