Ivory Coast Officials Alleviate Concerns Over Ammonium Nitrate Ship

Amid growing anxiety among residents, Ivory Coast port officials have declared that stringent safety standards are being followed for a ship containing 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate in Abidjan's harbour. The chemical, while a common fertilizer, has a notorious past linked to explosions, raising alarms reminiscent of prior accidents in the region.

Officials at the port of Abidjan in Ivory Coast have sought to quell public anxiety regarding a vessel anchored in the harbor loaded with 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a substance that can be both a widely used fertilizer and a potential explosive. Hien Yacouba Sie, the port authority chief, has confirmed that stringent safety regulations are being adhered to, aiming to ease fears among the local population of over six million amidst echoes of a devastating blast in Beirut four years ago that was linked to the chemical.

The ammonium nitrate, initially sourced from Russia, has sparked alarm after a segment of the cargo was dumped in the English Channel last year due to contamination from fuel oil amid rough maritime conditions, which one local MP called "environmental terrorism." Following this incident, the remaining amount was transferred to the ship named Zimrida, which docked in Ivory Coast eight days prior and is currently stationed in the outer harbor as a precautionary measure until safety protocols are fully observed.

Ivorian officials assert that the cargo aboard Zimrida has undergone rigorous safety inspections. In a bid to reassure residents, authorities have invited journalists to board the ship and inspect the contents. Inside, dozens of white bags filled with ammonium nitrate were visible, prompting a precautionary deployment of fire safety measures like a fire truck stationed nearby. Despite the cargo’s clearance, port spokesman Aboubakar Toto explained that unloading is delayed merely to follow established protocols and to await instructions.

Environmental group Robin des Bois has questioned the decision to use the port as a storage site and urged for the speedy transport of the goods to their rightful destinations. Ivorian authorities, however, highlighted that the handling of ammonium nitrate is routine, noting that over 40,000 tonnes of the compound have been unloaded at the port without incident in 2024 alone. Of the current shipment, 7,600 tonnes are set for local agricultural use, while the remainder is scheduled to be sent to Luanda in Angola and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania upon Zimrida's departure.