Explosive fertiliser in Ivory Coast harbour nothing to fear, officials say

Port authorities in Ivory Coast have dismissed safety fears about a moored boat loaded with 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which is the same compound that caused a catastrophic blast in Lebanon four years ago.

Ammonium nitrate is commonly used as an agricultural fertiliser, but is also potentially explosive.

Its presence in the waters off the busy city of Abidjan - home to more than six million people - has caused alarm among some residents.

Part of this same cargo, which began its journey in Russia, ended up being dumped off the coast of England last year after it became contaminated by fuel oil following a rough sea voyage.

A local MP in the county of Norfolk said that dump was "environmental terrorism".

The remaining ammonium nitrate was then transferred to another ship - called the Zimrida - which reached Ivory Coast eight days ago.

"Following allegations of damage to the cargo transported and as a precaution to protect the population and property," the vessel will remain in the outer harbour, say port authorities.

Ivorian officials insist that what is now left on board the Zimrida has been subject to the most stringent safety checks.

Wary locals still remember the impact of the unloading of toxic waste at the port of Abidjan nearly two decades ago.

Seeking to reassure the local population, officials invited the BBC and other journalists on board the Zimrida on Tuesday to see the cargo.

Once inside the vast vessel and with all five of its holds opened up, hundreds of round, white bags containing the chemical are visible.

The main indicator of its deadly potential is a fire truck parked outside on the quay.

But when asked by the BBC why the goods still had not been unloaded, despite passing checks, port spokesman Aboubakar Toto said they were simply following protocol and waiting for the order to proceed.

In a statement to the BBC, Paris-based environmental NGO Robin des Bois said it was dangerous for Abidjan port to be used as a "storage site" and that the goods should be sent onward to their buyer without delay.

Ivorian authorities meanwhile say that ammonium nitrate deliveries are commonplace and that more than 40,000 tonnes of the compound were unloaded at the same port in 2024 without incident.

Of the shipment waiting currently on the Zimrida, 7,600 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser is destined for use in Ivory Coast.

Once the Zimrida eventually leaves Ivory Coast, it will deliver the remainder of the cargo to Luanda in Angola and and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

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