PHOSPHATE ROCK

What Is Phosphate Rock And Where Do I Use It?

Phosphate rock is formed in oceans in the form of calcium phosphate, called phosphorite. The phosphorus is an essential element for life and cannot be replaced.
Phosphate rock is used for its phosphorus content, to produce fertilizer, feed, food and pharmaceutical product.

Main phosphate rock producers are located in North-Africa, Middle East, USA and China.
Europe does not have any phosphate mine and is completely dependent on foreign producers.

All the producers of phosphate in the world need high grade phosphate rock to produce fertilizer, feed and food phosphate. The main issue is that today, the reserves of high grade rock are depleting and are held by four or five big suppliers outside Europe. Low supply combined with high demand means a price increase.
The full dependency of Europe for its phosphate, the depleting of the reserve calls for new technology able to use alternative sources of phosphates (ashes from sewage sludge incineration “Urban mines”, low grade rock phosphate).
Ecophos has the technology to use the low grade phosphate, but also to close the loop by using the ashes coming from the sewage sludge incinerators.
We need new European legislation concerning the incineration of the sewage sludge. The sewage sludge should be mono-incinerated and not co-incinerated with the household waste in order to close the loop.