The project aims to position Togo further downstream in the phosphate industry by producing fertilisers locally from domestic phosphate rock. It covers the full value chain, including phosphate exploration, project design and definitive feasibility studies, rock extraction and beneficiation, the construction of a fertiliser plant with sulphuric and phosphoric acid units, and a dedicated power plant to supply the mine and industrial facilities. The pre-feasibility study estimated an investment cost of approximately US$139.6 million for the beneficiation plant, with a nominal capacity to support the production of 1 million tonnes of DAP or TSP fertiliser annually. Total project costs are estimated at US$2-3 billion, subject to confirmation through ongoing studies. The project responds to a significant regional supply gap: in 2020, West African fertiliser consumption reached approximately 3.5 million tonnes, of which only 9% was produced locally.
Project overview
Investment opportunity
Togo produces approximately 2 million tonnes of phosphate per year (36% P₂O₅) and holds undeveloped reserves of 2.1 billion tonnes of carbonate phosphate and 40 million tonnes of metamorphic phosphate. ECOWAS fertiliser demand is projected to grow by 17% over ten years (FAO), while the global phosphate fertiliser market is forecast to reach US$105.27 billion by 2032, up from US$65 billion in 2022. The project is seeking strategic partners through a joint venture, equity investment, project finance and public-private partnership arrangements, subject to the results of ongoing feasibility studies and project structuring. Togo offers access to the ECOWAS market and the Port of Lomé, supporting regional distribution and export opportunities. Sales of intermediate products such as sulphuric and phosphoric acid could generate early cash flow and support the development of downstream fertiliser production facilities.
Investment types sought
Project status
Development stage
Pre-feasibility
Current status / progress to date
Completed: Preliminary studies, phosphate characterisation (March 2024), beneficiation pilot plant testing, pilot-scale trials, identification of the optimal treatment process, and conceptual plant design, with OCP as technical partner. Ongoing: Phosphoric acid pilot testing. Next steps: Complete the definitive feasibility study, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), and financial studies.
Additional project information
- Lead agency
- Government of Togo
Expected impact
Jobs created / supported
To be quantified through the definitive feasibility study. The project is expected to generate temporary construction jobs, permanent direct employment in mining, phosphate beneficiation, and acid and fertiliser production, as well as indirect employment opportunities in services, transport, maintenance, logistics and local subcontracting.
Economic & development benefits
- Reduces dependence on imported fertilisers in a West African market where local production accounts for only 9% of consumption
- Adds value to Togo's phosphate resources through downstream processing into fertilisers
- Provides access to the ECOWAS market and export opportunities under the AfCFTA
- Generates potential cash flow through the sale of intermediate products, including sulphuric and phosphoric acid
- Supports industrialisation through an integrated mine-to-fertiliser value chain with dedicated power infrastructure
Climate & resilience benefits
- Potentially strengthens agricultural resilience by improving the local availability of phosphate fertilisers and reducing exposure to international supply chain disruptions
- Improves the efficiency of phosphate resource utilisation through the beneficiation of carbonate phosphate and optimisation of industrial processes
- Offers potential to reduce the carbon footprint through energy-efficient equipment and, where technically and economically feasible, low-carbon energy sources, including on-site power generation through process heat recovery from sulphuric acid production
- Provides for the environmental management of industrial residues, including carbonate residues and phosphogypsum, with assessment of recovery opportunities and measures to prevent pollution risks
- Final climate classification and quantified benefits to be established through detailed analysis of emissions, climate risks, and mitigation and adaptation measures
Contact
Contact team
For more information about this project, please contact the Commonwealth Investment Platform team.