West African buyers line up for Indorama fertilizer

With the first pellets of Urea fertilizer expected to roll out soon from the brand new Indorama Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited (IEFCL) plant in Eleme near Port Harcourt, Rivers State, consumers of the product from the West Africa sub-region have expressed their excitement that such facility has emerged in Nigeria, and have lined up to get supplies.

Recently, business delegations from Republic of Cameroon and Mali were at the Indorama Fertilizer plant, where they were availed detailed tour of the $1.4 billion fertilizer plant.

Indorama Nigeria has earmarked 1 million metric tons (MMT) of its total capacity 1.4MMT of Urea fertilizers for export to Africa and beyond.

The delegations from the West African neighbours, which were impressed with the quality of facilities and latest technology deployed at the IEFCL, said the product was now within their reach, and “it holds great possibility of transforming agriculture within the sub-region, with a population of over 340 million people.”

The Mali delegation comprised Ibrahima Doucoure, president of the Malian Chamber of Commerce, and Modibo Kane Doucoure of DP Agros Industries SA of Mali.

For the Cameroonian delegation, which came from the Afri-Nova Company SA of Cameroon, included Mbongwin Willy Gaby, Dongo Victor Guy Aime and Yomgne Kouokan Betrand.

Meanwhile, the Malian delegation led by its president of Mali Chamber of Commerce, Doucoure has opened discussions with the managing director/CEO of Indorama Nigeria, Manish Mundra, in which they said they were ready to be given the opportunity to buy the first fertilizer bags roll out from the Indorama Fertilizer plant.

On his part, Mundra said the complimentary brand new port terminal in Onne, highlighted the Indorama Group’s capacity to conveniently ship its fertilizers to countries in the West African sub-region and beyond.

Mundra, who expressed his happiness to receive the West African business delegation, assured them that fertilizers roll out from the plant was imminent.

He stated the economic benefits for the West African neighbours in buying fertilizer from Nigeria, as they would enjoy the ECOWAS duty-free imports scheme versus duties payable from buying outside the region.

BEN EGUZOZIE