Ammonium nitrate in Abidjan is nothing to fear, say Ivorian officials

Port authorities in Ivory Coast have dismissed safety concerns about an anchored boat loaded with 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which is the same compound that caused a catastrophic explosion in Lebanon four years ago.

Ammonium nitrate is commonly used as an agricultural fertilizer, but it is also potentially explosive.

Its presence in the waters off the bustling city of Abidjan – home to more than six million people – has raised alarm among some residents.

Part of that same cargo that began its journey in Russia eventually was cast off the coast of England last year after becoming contaminated with fuel oil after a stormy sea voyage.

A local MP in Norfolk County said the dump was “environmental terrorism”.

The remaining ammonium nitrate was then transferred to another ship – called the Zimrida – which reached Ivory Coast eight days ago.

“Following allegations of damage to the cargo being transported and as a precautionary measure to protect the public and property,” the ship will remain in the outer port, port authorities said.

Ivorian officials insist that what is now left aboard the Zimrida has been subjected to the most stringent safety checks.

Wary locals still remember the impact of dumping toxic waste in the port of Abidjan nearly two decades ago.

In an effort to reassure the local population, officials invited the BBC and other journalists aboard the Zimrida on Tuesday to view the cargo.

Once inside the huge ship and with its five holds open, hundreds of round white bags containing the chemical are visible.

The main indicator of its deadly potential is a fire truck parked outside on the pier.

But when asked by the BBC why the goods had not yet been unloaded despite passing checks, port spokesman Abubakar Toto said they were simply following protocol and waiting for the order to proceed.

In a statement to the BBC, the Paris-based environmental NGO Robin des Bois said it was dangerous to use the port of Abidjan as a “storage site” and that the goods should be sent to the buyer without delay.

Meanwhile, Ivorian authorities say shipments of ammonium nitrate are normal and that more than 40,000 tonnes of the compound were unloaded at the same port in 2024. without incident.

Of the shipment currently pending at Zimrida, 7,600 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertilizer is intended for use in Côte d'Ivoire.

After Zimrida eventually leaves Ivory Coast, it will deliver the remainder of the cargo to Luanda in Angola and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.