It will be the country’s first fertilizer plant, with a production capacity of 180,000 tons per year, while current market needs are estimated at 800,000 tons annually. The project results from a partnership between the Australian company Minbos and FertiÁfrica, part of the Noble Group, with inauguration scheduled for October.
The $18 million investment, financed with the consortium’s own resources, follows Minbos’s phosphate exploration activities in Cabinda. The industrial unit is almost ready to operate and, at peak production over the next two years, will create around 300 direct jobs.
Located in Benguela province, the plant will produce 180,000 tons of fertilizer annually—enough to cover only 22.6% of the market, according to calculations by Expansão, given the country’s annual demand of 800,000 tons.
The agreement between the two companies will allow the use of raw materials from Cabinda, namely phosphates supplied by Minbos, for fertilizer production at the FertiÁfrica unit. Initially, the factory will produce phosphate-based fertilizers, but as operations expand, it will also incorporate other elements such as ammonium and urea.
At present, Angola only has a few fertilizer blending facilities that use imported components to create balanced mixes for crops, but these are not full chemical manufacturing plants. This small-scale production covers just 3% of the market (24,000 tons), with the rest being imported. In practical terms, the Benguela plant will be the first true fertilizer production facility in the country.
Phosphate Fertilizers
One of the project’s most relevant aspects, according to Carlos Alves, Noble Group’s Strategy Director, is that production will be tailored to Angola’s crops, soils, and climate—unlike standard imported fertilizers, which are applied uniformly across the country regardless of regional characteristics.
As he explained to Expansão, the factory will produce fertilizers adapted to the country’s agricultural reality: to the type of farming, seeds, and even tailored solutions for each season and stage of crop growth.
“For the first time, the Noble Group—originally rooted in retail and later shifting into industry—is now taking its first steps in agriculture, specifically in fertilizer production, near the Lobito Corridor,” said Alves, stressing that this represents a commitment to a sector with significant opportunities.
For his part, Secretary of State for Agriculture and Livestock, Castro Camarada, noted that the project is perfectly aligned with the National Development Plan, particularly in relaunching fertilizer production in the country and reducing dependence on imports.
He stressed that the 180,000 tons of annual production will only cover a portion of the country’s needs, as current fertilizer consumption remains modest. However, he warned that consumption is expected to rise significantly in the coming years, calling for further investment in the sector.
In June this year, for example, the Government approved the purchase of 180,000 tons of fertilizer from Morocco’s state-owned phosphate mining company OCP for $100 million, under Presidential Decree No. 162/25 of June 24, in preparation for the upcoming agricultural season beginning in September.
These fertilizers will then be distributed or sold mainly to small, medium, and individual farmers, including cooperatives. However, this volume remains insufficient compared to the country’s actual needs, which have so far been largely met through private imports.
Source: Expansão
