Civil construction of phosphate producer and supplier Sino Great Chemicals’ mono ammonium phosphate (MAP) fertiliser plant in Chilanga, in Zambia’s Lusaka province, is about 30% complete, with trial production expected to begin in August 2027 and full optimisation anticipated for December 2027.

“We are encouraged by the pace of construction and procurement and the envisaged local beneficiation once plant is fully optimised by December 2027,” says Zambian mining and investment company ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) CEO Kakenenwa Muyangwa.

Sino Great Chemical is a joint venture project between ZCCM-IH and diversified industrial conglomerate Wonderful Group, with respective shareholdings of 30% and 70%.

ZCCM-IH has invested $50-million split into $37.8-million for its 30% equity stake and $12.2-million in debt financing carrying a fixed yearly interest rate of 11% over five years, with a one-year moratorium on the principal and interest.

The plant’s progress is a “clear demonstration of ZCCM-IH’s strategy of fostering trade and investment through active partnerships that unlock value for Zambia”, says ZCCM-IH chairperson Phesto Musonda.

The total project involves an integrated phosphate fertiliser and mining project comprising the Chilanga fertiliser production facility, valued at about $361-million and funded through a combination of equity and debt, and a phosphate rock mine in the Sinda region in Zambia’s Eastern province.

When fully operational, the facility will house a 400 000 t/y sulfuric acid unit, a 150 000 t/y phosphoric acid unit, a 300 000 t/y powder MAP unit and a 750 000 t/y phospho- gypsum washing unit.

The majority of foundation work at the plant has been completed and vertical construction of the civil infrastructure is currently under way.

Key milestones include the completion of the air compressor station, phosphogypsum water washing facility, vacuum pump circulating water station, product tank farm and reaction tank foundations, the perimeter wall, amination reaction foundation and sulphur melting and filtration foundation.

Additionally, procurement of main production equipment is about 20% complete, with deliveries arriving on a regular basis.

Work is also advancing at the Sinda phosphate rock mine, which will supply feedstock to the Chilanga facility. Once fully developed, Sinda is expected to produce close to 300 000 t/y of phosphate feeding into the MAP plant.

Muyangwa enthuses that the project’s scale and production capacity make it transformational.

The mine has an estimated 15-year life-of-mine, with potential for extension through further exploration.

Mine development activities have begun following the conclusion of the latest farming season, in line with agreements reached with local traditional leadership.

Given that Zambia currently imports close to two-million metric tonnes of phosphate a year, the MAP project aims to transform Zambia’s industrial minerals beneficiation sector by addressing growing demand for phosphate chemicals and high-quality fertilisers while reducing reliance on imported inputs and strengthening the country’s agricultural and industrial productivity.

The MAP and phosphate mine projects are expected to create about 1 600 direct jobs and 10 500 indirect jobs.

“Sino Great Chemicals remains fully committed to delivering this project on schedule and looks forward to continued collaboration with ZCCM-IH as construction advances toward trial production,” Sino Great Chemicals CEO Shashank Mehta concludes.