Why Potash?
Potash is a fertiliser used to increase crop yields and improve the quality of plants – it plays a central role in helping feed the world's growing population.
Potassium based fertiliser is proven to:
- Improve crop quality
- Increase uptake of nitrogen
- Increase efficiency of water use
Fast facts
Macronutrients
There are three key plant macronutrients: potassium (K), nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P)
Key product
Muriate of Potash (“MOP”) is a potassium salt (KCl) which is a key product used in the agricultural industry
K Fertiliser
MOP is the most important K fertiliser product in the world, accounting for approximately 95% of global demand
K60
Minimum saleable grade for standard MOP for agricultural uses is 60% K20 – referred to as K60
Production
The Khemisset Project will produce the ubiquitous K60 product
Global need
In 2017, it is estimated that global consumption of MOP reached a record of around 64 million tonnes
Potash prices
Potash prices are recovering from cyclical lows and have typically lagged the global mining cycle
What is potash?
The term potash refers to a group of potassium bearing minerals and chemicals. Potash is a fertiliser used in potassium deficient soil, to increase crop yields and improve the quality of the plant. It may be used in combination with nitrogen and phosphate, to increase the yields of important crops such as corn, soybeans, grains, and rice. Potassium protects plants from extreme temperatures, helps plants to fight stress and disease, reduces wilting, strengthens roots and stems, and assists in transferring food. It activates plant enzymes to ensure plants use water efficiently.
Potash plays a central role in helping feed the world's growing population and demand is driven by the ongoing requirement to feed a growing population from a declining arable land. Approximately 95% of world potash production is used as fertiliser, the rest is used in a variety of chemical and manufactured products. There is no substitute for potash and MOP remains the cheapest and most important source of potassium for agricultural purposes.
Potash in Africa
Morocco: One of the fastest growing potash consuming countries in the world
The Khemisset project is situated in one of the fastest growing potash consuming country in the world indicating that there will be strong local demand for the potash product. Morocco is also ideally located to service four key export markets for MOP in the Atlantic corridor including South Africa. The project’s location relative to its target markets will deliver a premium netback price versus many of its peers.
“Africa has more than 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land and among the world’s lowest fertiliser application rates”
