A massive one-billion-ton phosphate reserve has been discovered in Syria’s eastern districts, reported the Daily Star newspaper on Tuesday.
“We are confident this reserve will improve the quality of exported phosphate,” said Syria’s Phosphate and Minerals Company director, Farhan Al Muhsein.
Syria currently extracts 2.5 million tons of phosphate annually, 75 percent of which is exported to Asia and Europe.
Since April, 732 tons of phosphate have been extracted, with 700 tons exported to India, said the official.
A contract between the Phosphate and Minerals Company and Syria’s Company for Irrigation and Drinking Water (RIMA) has been ratified to increase the extraction and exporting of phosphate to two million tons annually.
Equipment for the purpose, costing $10 million, has been purchased. In addition, a $30 million deal has been ratified with France for the extraction of 1.2 million tons of phosphate per year, he added – Albawaba.com
