Jorf Lasfar
Encyclopedia
Jorf Lasfar is a deepwater commercial port located on the Atlantic coast of Morocco
. In terms of the volume of product processed, as of 2004, it was considered the second most important port in Morocco (just after Casablanca
). It is home to a swiftly expanding industrial quarter, which includes both major artificial fertilizer and petrochemical
factories. Its harbor is well equipped for the exportation of phosphate rock
(transported from Gantour and Ouled Abdoun) and various chemicals such as pure sulphur, ammonia
, and sulphuric acid. The city is home to the largest independent power station
in the country—primarily funded by investments from the Swedish
-Swiss
company ABB Group and the American company CMS Energy
—which was thought to be capable of creating a third of Morocco's total power output. The investment, numbering $1.5 billion, was the single largest foreign investment on Moroccan soil up until that point.
In 2002 the Moroccan company Office Chérifien des Phosphates
(OCP)—a state-owned phosphate exporter—started the building of an air quality research laboratory at Jorf Lasfar. It was announced in 2008 that the Abu Dhabi
-based International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) was in the beginning stages of preparations for the construction of an oil refinery at Jorf Lasfar at a cost of $5 billion. With a proposed production capacity of 200, 000 barrels per day (bpd), the refinery is set to be completed in 2013. In the beginning of 2010, OCP began accepting proposals for the building of a desalination plant
. The Moroccan government was interested in building the plant at least since 2001, when the United States Trade and Development Agency
supplied $250,000 for preliminary studies. The plant, which will provide drinking water for the city of El Jadida
, has a planned capacity of 200,000 m3/d and is scheduled to be finished in 2012. OCP also has plans for the erection of 4 additional phosphate fertilizer factories, specializing in diammonium
and monoammonium phosphate.
Cap Blanc du Nord, the lighthouse
at the entrance of the port, is not known to be reliable, with its light occasionally going out.
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. In terms of the volume of product processed, as of 2004, it was considered the second most important port in Morocco (just after Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
). It is home to a swiftly expanding industrial quarter, which includes both major artificial fertilizer and petrochemical
Petrochemical
Petrochemicals are chemical products derived from petroleum. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable sources such as corn or sugar cane....
factories. Its harbor is well equipped for the exportation of phosphate rock
Phosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
(transported from Gantour and Ouled Abdoun) and various chemicals such as pure sulphur, ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
, and sulphuric acid. The city is home to the largest independent power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
in the country—primarily funded by investments from the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
-Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
company ABB Group and the American company CMS Energy
CMS Energy
CMS Energy is a public utility supplying electric power and natural gas to Metro Detroit and most of Michigan. Its headquarters are located in Jackson, Michigan. The company has operated since 1890....
—which was thought to be capable of creating a third of Morocco's total power output. The investment, numbering $1.5 billion, was the single largest foreign investment on Moroccan soil up until that point.
In 2002 the Moroccan company Office Chérifien des Phosphates
Office Cherifien des Phosphates
Office Chérifien des Phosphates is the national Moroccan phosphates company. It is the world's biggest exporter of phosphates and derivatives. The company is solely responsible for the production and sale of Moroccan phosphate resources, mined at the Benguérir, Khouribga, Youssoufia mines in...
(OCP)—a state-owned phosphate exporter—started the building of an air quality research laboratory at Jorf Lasfar. It was announced in 2008 that the Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
-based International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) was in the beginning stages of preparations for the construction of an oil refinery at Jorf Lasfar at a cost of $5 billion. With a proposed production capacity of 200, 000 barrels per day (bpd), the refinery is set to be completed in 2013. In the beginning of 2010, OCP began accepting proposals for the building of a desalination plant
Desalination
Desalination, desalinization, or desalinisation refers to any of several processes that remove some amount of salt and other minerals from saline water...
. The Moroccan government was interested in building the plant at least since 2001, when the United States Trade and Development Agency
United States Trade and Development Agency
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency , located in Rosslyn, Arlington, Virginia, is an independent U.S. Government foreign assistance agency pursuant to section 661 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended . The agency was established to advance economic development and U.S. commercial...
supplied $250,000 for preliminary studies. The plant, which will provide drinking water for the city of El Jadida
El Jadida
El Jadida is a port city on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, in the province of El Jadida. It has a population of 144,440...
, has a planned capacity of 200,000 m3/d and is scheduled to be finished in 2012. OCP also has plans for the erection of 4 additional phosphate fertilizer factories, specializing in diammonium
Diammonium phosphate
Diammonium phosphate is one of a series of water-soluble ammonium phosphate salts which can be produced when ammonia reacts with phosphoric acid...
and monoammonium phosphate.
Cap Blanc du Nord, the lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
at the entrance of the port, is not known to be reliable, with its light occasionally going out.