Groupe Chimique

Acid Plant Database May 31, 2011

Owner	Groupe Chimique Tunisien (GCT)
Location	Tunisia
Background	1952 - Startup of SIAPE TSP plant in Sfax 1972 - Startup of ICM acid (MGA) plant in Gabes 1979 - Startup of SAEPA DAP plant in Gabes 1983 - Startup of SAEPA AN plant 1985 - Startup of Engrais de Gabes for the production of DAP plant in Gabes - Creation of Industrie Chimique de Gafsa (ICG) for TSP production at M'dhilla 1988 - Creation of the Skhira plant for the production of phosphoric acid and MGA 1989 - SIAPE absorber ICM, EG and ICG 1992 - Merger of SIAPE and SAEPA and creation of GCT 1994 - Merger of chairmanship of CPG and GCT by appointment of a single common chairman and general manager 1996 - Merger of commercial structures of CPG and GCT
Website	www.gct.com.tn
Plant	Skira Industrial Site
Plant	Plant No. 1	Plant No. 2
Coordinates*	34° 20' 51" N, 10° 8' 56" E	34° 20' 48" N, 10° 8' 58" E
Type of Plant	Sulphur Burning	Sulphur Burning
Gas Source	Elemental Sulphur	Elemental Sulphur
Plant Capacity	1588 MTPD (1750 STPD)	1588 MTPD (1750 STPD)
SA/DA	-	-
Status	-	-
Year Built	1988	1988
Technology	-	-
Contractor	-	-
Remarks	-	-
Pictures
General	Tunisia is a leading country, worldwide, as far as natural phosphate and mineral fertilizers are concerned. Compagnie des Phosphates de Gafsa (CPG) has been active in mining for more than a century. The activity of ore benefeciation and production of various mineral fertilizers is more than half a century old. CPG operates seven open cast quarries and one underground mine. Annual production of merchant phosphate in 2007 reached 8 millions, placing Tunisia the fifth in the world for phosphate production. After having been exporting all its phosphate rock production during the first fifty years of its activity, Tunisia entered successfully into phosphoric acid and mineral fertilizers production and developed this new activity so that Tunisia is now processing more than 80% of its phosphate production. GCT owns 4 industrial sites located in SFAX and M'DHILLA (for TSP), GABES (for Phosphoric Acid, DAP, DCP and AN) and SKHIRA (for Phosphoric Acid). The phosphatic field holds an important position within the Tunisian economy both in labour level and in trade balance worldwide. The Tunisian phosphate industry is fifth amongst the international operators in the field. Natural phosphate and its by-products (Phosacid, DAP, TSP, DCP...) are exported to 50 countries in 5 continents. In 1994, The Tunisian government merged the chairmanship of CPG and GCT appointing the same chairman. In 1996 the government ordered a single common commercial Direction. The merger brought greater efficiency to the sector.
References	-
News	May 19, 2011 - The "Group Chimique Tunisien" (GCT) producer of diammonium phosphate (DAP) will resume production at a normal pace during the month of June, following recent political unrest in the country, said a source from the company quoted by ICIS, the website specializing in chemical industry. Speaking on the sidelines of the conference of the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), the source said that the strike of railway is still hitting supplies of phosphate, a key raw material for production of phosphate fertilizers. However, the DAP plant - which normally produces 110,000 tonnes / month - runs at 75-80% capacity. Purchasers in connection with an Italian importer, who are about to begin negotiations for the shipment of cargoes in June, bought two lots of 7,000 tons in May for $ 640 per ton (€ 454/tons) FOB. November 4, 2008 - Groupe Chimique Tunisien (GCT) stopped production at Gabès and Skhira. Production at the two sites will stop and suppliers will be required to delay or, in certain cases to cancel, sulphur deliveries. GCT will stop the production of diammonium phosphate and phosphoric acid until the end of the year, at the Gabès and Skhira sites. The production of triple superphosphate (TSP) and phosphoric acid will continue at the facilities in Sfax.

MTPD - Metric Tonne per Day STPD - Short Ton per Day
MTPA - Metric Tonne per Annum STPA - Short Ton per Annum
SA - Single Absorption
DA - Double Absorption

* Coordinates can be used to locate plant on Google Earth


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