The Tunisian Chemical Group (GCT) and Chinese companies signed an agreement on Sunday in Medhilla, Gafsa, for the creation of a triple superphosphate production unit.
This is the fourth phase of a project called Medhila 2 for the production of chemical fertilizers in the area, whose realization was started in 2010.
The annual production capacity of this new unit, which will come into operation in early 2018, is 400 thousand tons of triple super phosphate said Romdhane Souid, CEO of the Gafsa Phosphate Company (CPG) and GCT.
During the agreement signing ceremony, Zakaria Hamad, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining said the Medhila 2 project, carried out with an investment of 632 MTD, will increase Tunisia’s capacity in chemical fertilizers and improve its position in the international market.
“Phosphate production has increased compared to previous years,” he said, adding that in 2015, commercial phosphate production increased from 937,000 tons in the first half to 2 million 300 in H2″.
“Our goal is to reach a production of 6 million tons of commercial phosphate in 2016,” he said.
The minister added that about 30 percent of the investments will be spent on the environment in the Medhila 2 zone and gas emissions from units will comply with international standards.
This project will create 540 job positions and production of this unit will be sold to Bangladesh, Iran and Brazil.
The Medhila 2 project is also composed of a sulfuric acid plant and a phosphoric acid unit. The feed rate of these units is 70%.
