Rabat – Moroccan phosphate giant OCP Group took center stage at the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) 4th Global Manufacturing Conference, held in Vienna last week, to share its initiatives aimed at decarbonizing the fertilizer industry and promoting sustainable practices.
In a session themed “Decarbonization Pathways for Fertilizers,” the company’s VP of Climate Action & Decarbonization Naoufal Mahdar underlined that “OCP is tackling its operations and value chain decarbonization challenge while maintaining the world’s needed P-based nutrients supply that feeds the soil and the growing population.”
Mahdar stressed OCP’s dedication to navigating the delicate balance between decarbonization and sustaining the world’s crucial supply of phosphorus-based nutrients that feed agriculture and support the food security of a growing population.
The commitment involves a multi-faceted approach, embracing renewable energy, green ammonia production, and soil carbon sequestration. OCP Group is channeling substantial efforts into transitioning its value chain towards sustainability and engaging farmers in this collective effort, he noted.
“We are fostering renewables, green ammonia, soil carbon sequestration, value chain, and farmers’ engagements,” he emphasized during the event.
Mahdar outlined an ambitious timeline, declaring OCP Group’s dedication to be able to produce one million tonnes of green ammonia by 2027, further scaling up to an impressive 3 million tonnes by 2032.
This commitment demonstrates the company’s resolve to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to a sustainable future.
In January 2023, OCP unveiled a robust investment strategy for 2023-2027, reinforcing its commitment to the global energy transition and national sustainability.
With a budget of $12.3 billion (MAD 130 billion), the company aims to enhance renewable energy generation and achieve full carbon neutrality by 2040.
The investment strategy, which aligns with Morocco’s clean energy aspirations, also aims to address Morocco’s water stress and energy import dependency. To tackle these challenges, OCP intends to power its desalination plants sustainably and produce green ammonia locally, reducing the reliance on fluctuating natural gas prices.
This plan seeks to transform Morocco’s industrial landscape, stimulate job growth, and advance sustainability, aligning with the country’s strategic objectives.
Read also: Fertilizers Leadership & Pan-Africanism: OCP’s Sustainable Transition Explained
The IFC’s 4th Global Manufacturing Conference, which took place between September 26 and 28, brought together key stakeholders in the manufacturing industry, including leading manufacturers, government leaders, industry experts, and financial and development institutions.
The event aimed to foster discussions, share experiences, and explore innovative technologies and business models to promote sustainable manufacturing practices, according to the organizers.
The conference focused on various topics related to sustainable manufacturing, including exploring strategies, tactics, and new technologies to encourage companies to transition to cleaner energy and improve efficiency through conservation and waste reduction.
In addition, the event reviewed the effectiveness and adequacy of sustainability policies and company commitments to meeting the Paris Agreement goals, analyzing their impact, and discussing the way forward.
The IFC emphasized that their manufacturing activities are a “vital” part of the World Bank Group’s mission of promoting sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction in developing countries.
