Major Plans Afoot

Following the Chinese State Development and Investment Corporation’s (SDIC) acquisition of a 28% stake in the company, what is the significance of APC’s new strategic partnership?

Having SDIC as a strategic partner in APC is of great importance. This can be demonstrated by the fact that APC sales to China, the biggest consumer of potash globally, represented 25% of APC’s total sales on average in the past few years. And, with the importance of potash in the Chinese agriculture sector, SDIC’s presence on APC’s board of directors explains the strategic vision of the new partner for APC’s operations to expand the company’s production capacity and focus on protecting the continuity of its operations. Having such a partner gives a boost to complete the current expansion projects, proceeding in the expansion projects in APC’s five-year future plan, and supporting the efforts of looking for new investment opportunities whether in potash or in other fertilizers products. The Chinese market is considered one of the most important markets for APC due to the large consumption of potash there. APC has always worked on building a strong position in the Chinese market and maintaining a strong relationship with its customers there, as this provides APC with a solid base for its sales plan that would not be affected if markets’ demand reduce to a point where they can affect the company’s sales volumes and therefore its profitability.

Can you tell us more about the company’s ongoing efforts to increase capacity and the latest developments from its feasibility studies?

APC is currently exploring options to maximize and increase production by reviewing available alternatives plans and the possibility of increasing the efficiency of the existing plants and the evaporation areas. The board of directors has put in place a production expansion plan that entails three aspects. The first includes moving ahead with the expansion project in the northern region within the concession area, which is expected to increase potash production capacity by 140,000 tons per year. Secondly, we are allocating the necessary budget for the technical study of the Lisan area. In this regard, APC is following up with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources regarding the submission of the tender to the qualified companies that will conduct the study. If the study proves to be technically feasible, APC will compete to obtain the concession of potash extraction in that area according to the prevailing legislation and conditions set by the Jordanian government represented by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. Finally, APC’s board of directors approved a budget allocation to conduct feasibility and technical studies in Ghor Fifa, located in the southern part of the concession area that is expected to increase production capacity by 450,000 tons.

How does APC evaluate its role in Jordan’s mining sector and the economy more broadly?

The mining industry in Jordan is dominated by the production of phosphate, potash, building and decoration stones, glass sand, and other non-metallic resources. Jordan was ranked the seventh-largest producer of potash in 2018. APC is considered one of the main tributaries of hard currency in Jordan’s economy. The company’s sales were close to USD1 billion in 2018, including its subsidiaries and affiliates. In addition, APC provided total payments of almost USD100 million to the government of Jordan through incomes taxes, mining fees, road fees, dividend distributions, handling fees, and others. APC and its subsidiaries are the main recruiters in Jordan’s mining sector, with 2,116 employees working for the company and its subsidiaries as of end of 2018. In addition, the company has large capital expenditures and civil works being conducted by local Jordanian contractors.