Ivorian authorities have cleared the Zimrida, a ship carrying 20,000 tons of ammonium nitrate, deeming it safe after initially forbidding it from entering Ivorian waters. The vessel docked at the port of Abidjan on Tuesday following reassurances that the cargo, used in agriculture and mining, does not endanger public safety or port facilities. Hien Yacouba Sié, the port’s manager, highlighted the growing demand for ammonium nitrate in Ivory Coast due to the expansion of its mining industry. He explained that, between 2023 and 2024, the volume of ammonium nitrate handled by the port increased from 20,000 tons to over 46,000 tons. Despite safety assurances, concerns persist due to ammonium nitrate’s association with disasters like the 2020 Beirut port explosion.
Source: africanews.
