OCP interested by hydrocarbon finds in Morocco, general-manager says

"L'Office Cherifien des Phosphates" (OCP) is interested in many ways by hydrocarbon finds in Morocco because sulfur and ammonia needed for phosphate processing are extracted from gas, general-manager Mohamed Berrada said.

If gas reserves prove important and good enough, OCP will be setting up plants to manufacture sulfur and ammonia to upgrade integration and competitive edge, Berrada explained in the 2M television "Entretien" program Sunday night.

OCP general manager said half of phosphate production, 12.5 million tons, is processed in Jorf Lasfar plants adding talks with Indian operators will shortly help launch partnership projects on the site. He also insisted on the necessity to reconsider texts regulating OCP saying the group will likely be turned into an anonymous firm with prospects of opening part of capital to the public through the stock exchange.

In 1999, OCP exported phosphoric acids worth $ 578 million, natural and chemical fertilizers worth $ 310 million and crude phosphates worth $ 446 million.