OCP Group

Boujniba: first mine

The OCP Group started its activity of extracting phosphate and the shipment processing of phosphate on March 1, 1921, when the first mine in Boujniba in the Khouribga area, the richest phosphate deposits in the world, was opened.^[11] Transporting the phosphate to the port of Casablanca started in that year, allowing the first export of phosphate on July 27, 1921. Subsequently, OCP opened three other mining sites known as Benguérir, Boucraâ-Laayoune and Youssoufia.^[12]

Industrial development

Production gradually increased to 5 million tonnes in 1954. Since then, production has continued to expand, exceeding the 10 million tonnes threshold in 1964 and 20 million tonnes in 1979.

Between 1951 and 1961 drying and calcination plants were established in the Khouribga and Youssoufia areas. In 1962, the OCP Group established a "Customer Care Service" consisting of engineers and technicians who travel the world with a mission to monitor the use of phosphates that have been delivered to customers in order to constantly improve the qualities produced in accordance with the evolution of processing techniques.^[13] To continue its growth and to win new international markets, the OCP Group created Morocco Chemicals in 1965. The company is responsible for the production of different products derived from phosphate with a plant built in Safi.^[14][15] The first exports of phosphate derivatives began that year.

In 2014, the OCP Group inaugurated the pipeline linking Khouribga to Jorf Lasfar, a technological advancement in the transportation of phosphates.^[16]

Establishment of the OCP Group

In 1975, the Office chérifien des phosphates became the OCP Group.^[14][17]

In the following years, the OCP Group invested in the creation of new production lines, especially in Jorf Lasfar, where the construction of a new chemical complex began in 1982. These new industrial structures for the production of sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid would become effective in 1986, followed by the production lines for fertilizer in 1987.^[18]

In 1994, the OCP Group started a new mining project in Sidi Chennane in the Khouribga area.^[19] The construction of the purified phosphoric acid plant was launched in Jorf Lasfar in 1996 and effectively started in 1998.^[20]

In 2008, the OCP Group became a limited company.^[21][22] To date, 95% of the OCP Group is owned by the state and 5% by the Banque Centrale Populaire.^[23][24]

OCP Africa

In February 2016, the OCP Group created a new subsidiary named OCP Africa, which is responsible for leading the development of the group on the African fertilizer market through a network of subsidiaries in 5 African countries. The subsidiary was granted the status of Casablanca Finance City (CFC) for investors on the African continent to benefit from an attractive package of tax incentives and other opportunities.^[38][39] The OCP projects in Africa cover the entire value chain, including the local construction of fertilizer plants, the development of logistics and distribution capabilities, as well as investment in research for the development of formulas adapted for the soils and crops (mapping the African soil fertility and respective fertilizer needs). The African Development Bank (ADB) has pledged to support the various initiatives of the OCP Group in favour of the African continent.^{[40][41][42][43]}

The OCP Group plans to open 14 new branches in Sub-Saharan Africa to make a promising entry into the African market. The main countries targeted by this operation are: Ivory Coast, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, Cameroon, Nigeria, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya, Ghana, and Ethiopia.^[44]

Saftco

On May 25, 2016, the OCP Group opened a commodity trading entity in Switzerland that includes phosphate, fertilizers and chemical products.^[38][54]

Top Management

• Chairman & CEO: Mostafa Terrab
• Secretary general – managing director: Mohamed El Kadiri
• Managing director: Mustapha El Ouafi

Senior Management

• Executive vice president strategy & corporate development: Marouane Ameziane
• Executive vice president sales, marketing & raw material procurement: Mohamed Belhoussain
• Executive vice president legal affairs & general counsel: Otmane Bennani-Smires
• Executive vice president human capital: Faris Derrij
• Executive vice president industrial development: Soufiyane El Kassi
• Executive vice president industrial operations: Iliass Elfali
• Executive vice president chief financial officer: Ghislane Guedira
• Executive vice president public affairs & group communication: Talal Zouaoui