In brief
Ivorian port authorities have addressed public worries regarding the presence of 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate at the Port of Abidjan, asserting that safety measures are in place despite lingering fears due to past incidents.
Port officials in Ivory Coast have sought to allay safety concerns regarding a vessel docked in the busy Port of Abidjan, which is carrying 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate—a compound linked to a devastating explosion in Lebanon four years ago. Though ammonium nitrate is widely used as an agricultural fertilizer, it is also known for its explosive properties, raising alarms among local residents in the populous city of over six million.The cargo, which originated in Russia, previously faced contamination issues after a rough sea journey that led to part of it being dumped off the coast of England. Local leaders have already labeled that incident as "environmental terrorism." Once this cargo arrived in Côte d'Ivoire eight days ago, the ship, named Zimrida, was placed in the outer harbor, pending further inspections due to claims about damage during transport.Ivorian officials assure that the remaining ammonium nitrate has passed rigorous safety checks. However, the memory of a toxic waste incident nearly twenty years ago remains fresh for locals, contributing to their heightened awareness. In a bid to reassure the community, officials invited media outlets like the BBC onboard the Zimrida to witness the cargo firsthand. Inside, the vessel revealed large quantities of white bags filled with ammonium nitrate, while safety measures were underlined by the presence of a fire truck stationed nearby. Port spokesperson Aboubakar Toto explained that the delay in unloading is simply a matter of following established protocols until the appropriate order to proceed is given.Environmental NGO Robin des Bois criticized the situation, labeling it dangerous for the port to be utilized as a "storage site" and urged authorities to expedite the transfer of goods to their designated buyer without further delay. Meanwhile, port officials emphasize that ammonium nitrate imports are routine and highlighted that over 40,000 tonnes were successfully unloaded at the facility in 2024. Currently, 7,600 tonnes from the Zimrida are designated for local agricultural use, while the remaining cargo is due to be shipped to Luanda, Angola, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
