IVORY COAST – Organic Potash Corporation, OPC, through its subsidiary in West Africa, OPC Ivory Coast (OPCIC), has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for a Cooperation Agreement with PALMCI, a company involved in the production of refined palm oil products, with the largest palm oil refining plant in Africa.
PALMCI is a subsidiary company of the SIFCA Group, a major global player in several agro-industrial fields.
Through its proprietary licensed, patented technology, Organic Potash Corporation produces 99%+ pure potassium carbonate (potash) from the ash of agricultural waste, in particular, cocoa husks, but now with a view to including palm waste.
The Agreement opens up the possibility of producing a mix of food-grade potassium carbonate crystals, potassium carbonate solution and organic sourced fertilisers using OPC’s licenced technology.
Following the successful testing and determination, the parties will review a potential investment decision to construct a first production unit on a PALMCI site in Ivory Coast.
In parallel, OPC Ivory Coast will begin next year, preliminary pilot operations of the production of cocoa-based potassium carbonate and other products.
In the meantime, the mixture of cocoa and palm oil production waste are the two key ingredients envisaged under this agreement.
Africa supplies approximately 75% of global cocoa, with Ivory Coast alone producing 43%. The Ivory Coast is also the 11th largest supplier of palm oil in the world and 2nd largest in Africa.
Mrs. Heather Welner, President and CEO of OPC stated, “This opportunity of collaboration with PALMCI, provides OPC with an opportunity to determine the ability to potentially expand its raw material base and increase supply chain accessibility and availability.
“PALMCI is a leader in its field in West Africa and will enhance the collective knowledge gained through the Agreement.”
The purity of the company’s potassium carbonate will allow Organic Potash Corporation to target multiple industries including the Agricultural and Pharmaceutical industry.
OCP, ICL promote sustainability research in Morocco
Meanwhile, Moroccan fertilizer group OCP and ICL Specialty Fertilizer have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote sustainable development and the fight against climate change.
Under the agreement, the parties will offer funding to support sustainability programs and research at Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and Israel’s Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU).
The research, according to reports by Morocco Word, will be centred around food security, ecological restoration, smart agriculture, water, climate change, remote sensing, renewable energies, venture capital, among others.
The partnership also seeks to allow scientific and technical experts from UM6P and BGU to collaborate on sustainability initiatives and to build an agenda of different events, including seminars, symposia, and workshops.
The OCP group will provide an initial funding of US$300,000 to UM6P, while the ICL Group will provide a similar amount to BGU.
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