Imminent fertilizer plant worth Rwf33bn in Rwanda’s Bugesera to save import cost

Rwanda is going to have a new fertilizer producing plant, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2019.

The plant is said to be having the capacity to blend 100,000 tonnes of fertilizers. It is constructed in Rwanda’ Bugesera district at a cost of Rwf 33 billion (an average USD 38 million). The government wants to save a large amount of money it invests on importing fertilizers from other countries. The annual demand of country’s fertilizers is 53,000 tonnes. Once the factory commences its operation, the country will have a surplus of fertilizers, and this will create a new avenue for export diversification, as reported by The New Times.

For the purpose of constructing the fertilizer producing plant in Bugesera district, the government of Rwanda has tied up with a local firm named Agro Processing Trust Corporation and Morocco’s OCP Group. Founded in 1920, OCP Group is one of the leading exporters of phosphate rock, phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers in the world.

According to Rwanda Agriculture Board, the fertilizers that will be produced in the imminent plant include Diammonium Phosphate, urea etc. “The funds are available. It is a matter of time such that in the next year, we hope we will use fertiliser blends made in Rwanda based on soil test results,” Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Agriculture, Jean Claude Musabyimana opined.

“For instance, there will be formulation of the fertilizer adapted to the northern part of the country which is near volcanoes and has a particular type of land, which is different from that in northern part of the country.” “This project aims to bring fertilisers close to farmers. There will no longer be importation of fertilizers,” he added.

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