Abidjan ammonium nitrate has nothing to fear, Ivory Coast officials say

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

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

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

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

A local Norfolk County MP claimed the landfill was “environmental terrorism”.

The remaining ammonium nitrate was then transferred to another ship, called Zimrida, which arrived in Ivory Coast eight days ago.

“Following allegations of damage to the transported cargo and as a precautionary measure to protect the population and property,” the ship will remain in the outer port, port authorities said.

Ivorian officials insist that what is now left aboard the Zimrida has been subject to the strictest security controls.

Suspicious locals still remember the impact of the dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan port almost two decades ago.

To reassure local people, officials on Tuesday invited the BBC and other journalists aboard the Zimrida to view the cargo.

Once inside the huge ship and with the five holds open, hundreds of round white bags containing the chemical product are seen.

The main indicator of its deadly potential is a fire truck parked at the dock.

But when the BBC asked why the goods had not yet 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 the port of Abidjan to be used as a “storage site” and that the goods should be sent to their buyer without delay.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast authorities say deliveries of ammonium nitrate are common and that in 2024 more than 40,000 tonnes of the compound were unloaded at the same port without incident.

Of the cargo currently waiting on the Zimrida, 7,600 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertilizers are destined for Ivory Coast.

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