Emmerson studies potential sales of de-icing salt from Morocco's potash project

Potash development company Emmerson Plc has completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment on the potential sale of de-icing salt, a by-product from the company’s 100% owned Khemisset potash project, Mining Rewiew Africa reports.

The internal study has shown that it is possible to market salt in the US de-icing market, offering interesting prices.

It is estimated that Khemisset produces «more than 4.6 Mtpa of high-grade salt as a by-product of its potash operations, and through the sale of it as a by-product of conservatively 1 Mtpa into the large USA de-icing salt market, it has the potential to deliver additional nominal post tax NPV10 of up to US$133 million based on historical US de-icing salt prices». The idea is seen as an interesting opportunity for the US market.

At this stage, partnership discussions are already under way with appropriate groups with great expertise in the salt market.

The next step might include new detailed market studies, product specification reviews and integration to the Khemisset project process design.