The OCP Group (OCP S.A.) (formerly Office Chérifien des Phosphates) is a state-owned phosphate rock miner, phosphoric acid manufacturer and fertilizer producer. Founded in 1920, the company has grown to become the world's largest producer of phosphate and phosphate-based products and it is one of the largest phosphate, fertilizer, Chemicals and Mineral industrial companies in the world by revenue.
OCP has access to more than 70% of the world's phosphate rock reserves. Initially a mining company, OCP diversified in 1965 to become a phosphate processor, making it the world's largest fertilizer manufacturer. The company holds a 31% market share of the world phosphate product market.
The group employs nearly 23,000 people in Morocco and a number of international subsidiaries. In 2018, its revenues amounted to US$5.884 billion.
History
Origins
The OCP Group was founded in Morocco in 1920 as the Office Chérifien des Phosphates following Royal Decree. Mining production began in 1921, when it began extracting phosphate rock at its first mine in Khouribga. Transportation of the phosphate to the port of Casablanca also started in 1921, allowing the first export of phosphate that year. Subsequently, OCP launched other mining sites in Youssoufia in 1931 and in Benguerir in 1976, and launched chemical production in Safi in 1965, and in Jorf Lasfar in 1984.
Ownership
In 2008, the OCP Group became a limited company. Currently 95% of the OCP Group is owned by the Moroccan state and 5% by Banque Centrale Populaire investment funds.
Corporate Timeline
1920 Office Chérifien des Phosphates founded
1921 Launch of mining production in Khouribga
1931 Launch of mining production in Youssoufia
1965 Launch of chemical production in Safi
1976 Acquisition of 65% of Phosboucraa
1980 Launch of mining production at Benguerir site
1984 Launch of chemical production at Jorf Lasfar
1996 Construction of purified phosphoric acid plant launched in Jorf Lasfar
2002 OCP becomes sole owner of Phosboucraa
2006 Office Chérifien des Phosphates becomes OCP
2008 Transformation of Office Chérifien des Phosphates into a Corporation (OCP S.A) 2011 Joint Venture with Jacobs Engineering 2013 Joint Venture with DuPont de Nemours 2014 Launch of the Slurry Pipeline between Khouribga and Jorf Lasfar 2016 Creation of OCP Africa 2018 Inauguration of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and Joint Venture with IBM
In 2007, the OCP Group set itself a target to triple its production of fertilizers by 2020.
The OCP Group plays an important economic and social role in Morocco. The value of phosphates and their derivatives represented nearly a quarter of the country's exports and approximately 3.5% of the GDP in 2010.
In 2016, Fitch Ratings confirmed the rating of "investment grade" for the OCP Group.
After approval from the AMMC ((Moroccan Authority of the Capital Market) Autorité Marocaine du Marché des Capitaux) on December 9, 2016, the OCP Group managed to reach 10.2 billion dirhams of bonds from the national community. This loan is the largest ever made in the Moroccan market.
In February 2016, the OCP Group created a new subsidiary named OCP Africa, which is responsible for leading the development of the group in the African fertilizer market through a network of subsidiaries in 12 African countries.
On 8 September 2023, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 Mw hit Marrakesh-Safi region of Morocco. 6 Days later, the OCP Group donated $97.5 Million to Morocco’s Earthquake Relief Fund.
Operations
Mines and Key Sites
Khouribga
OCP's first mine opened in Khouribga in 1921. The Khouribga area has the richest phosphate deposits in the world. In 2014, a slurry pipeline between Khouribga and Jorf Lasfar was launched, which transports phosphate from the mines to the processing facility safely and efficiently. The pipeline, one world's longest gravity powered pipelines saves more than 3 Mm3 of water per year, as well as a significant amount of energy. The site employs more people than any other OCP mine, which is more than 6,100 people. In 2016, the mine produced 18.9MT of Phosphate Rock, or 70% of the total group output.
In 1994, the OCP Group started a new mining project in Sidi Chennane in the Khouribga area. The construction of the purified phosphoric acid plant was launched in Jorf Lasfar in 1996 and started production in 1998.
In 2014, the OCP Group inaugurated the slurry pipeline linking Khouribga to Jorf Lasfar, a technological advancement in the transportation of phosphates.