EuroChem ships first phosphate rock from Kazakhstan mine

Swiss agrochemical company EuroChem has completed its first intra-group delivery of ground phosphate rock from its mining operations in Kazakhstan.
 

EuroChem-Belorechenskie Minudobrenia (BMU), a unit of EuroChem, took delivery of around 11,000t of phosphate rock, which contains an average of 30.5% phosphorus oxide content.
 

In southern Russia, EuroChem-BMU produces phosphate and compound fertilisers.

 

EuroChem expects to ship more than 50,000t of ground phosphate rock from its Kazakh mining facility to its phosphate plants in Russia and Belgium by the end of this year.
 

EuroChem CEO Dmitry Strezhnev said: "With this first intra-group shipment, EuroChem moves closer to being self-sufficient in the production of phosphate rock.
 

"Additionally, we plan to further strengthen our presence in Kazakhstan with the construction of a fertiliser complex in close proximity to our mining facilities."
 

The company has already invested around $160m in its Kazakhstan project and on a social infrastructure.
 

Last year, EuroChem launched phosphate ore production at the Kok-Jon phosphate rock deposit in the Jambyl region of Kazakhstan.
 

The project has already produced around 20,000t of phosphate ore, which was being shipped to the company's adjacent storage facility.
 

From next year the company plans to produce up to 650,000t of phosphate ore after the complete commissioning of the Phase I programme.
 

EuroChem will also construct a fertiliser complex in the region, and enhance the production of phosphate ore to 1.5 million tonnes per year.
 

So far, the project has seen an investment of around $75m.
 

According to an agreement between EuroChem and the Kazakhstan Government, EuroChem is carrying out its activities in the Kok-Jon deposit, and plans to construct the fertiliser complex.
 

Since the pening of its mining operations in Kazakhstan, the company has invested more than $10m to upgrade social facilities in the Jambyl region.