UK fertilizer group Emmerson Plc, the Moroccan focused potash development company, has unveiled the findings of a socio-economic study of a potash project in Khemisset (Northern Morocco), highlighting the social and economic impacts of this project.
According to this study carried out by professor of Economics Sallem Koubida, this project will increase the local GDP per capita by an estimated 40 pc. It will also create 2,385 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase.
Once fully operational, a total of 1,500 jobs will be created with 760 being direct employees and the Company is targeting to fill 90 pc of roles at the mine with employees living within Khemisset and the surrounding communes
The study also affirmed that the total investment over the life of the Project is estimated to be $ 2.5 billion, stressing that the Company will adopt a procurement strategy to provide preferential treatment to local, regional and in country providers to maximise the benefits to Morocco
Furthermore, the additional tax contributions resulting from the Khemisset potash project represent an estimated 176 pc of tax revenues generated locally, 5.1 pc regionally and almost 1 pc nationally.
“We are delighted with the outputs of the study which demonstrate that the local, regional and national benefits that the Project will bring are significant”, said Emmerson CEO, Graham Clarke.
The Khemisset project is expected to produce over 700,000 tons of saleable K60 MOP (Muriate of Potash) and 1 million tons of de-icing salt per year. The projected mine life is 19 years although there is potential to extend this timeframe based on the mineral resources already in place.
