POTASH ORE
4,000
kt
ICL Iberia Suria & Sallent | Spain
ICL conducts its potash mining operations in Spain through its subsidiary, ICL Iberia Suria & Sallent (IBP). ICL Iberia, whose headquarters are located in Catalonia, is the only producer of salt and potash in Spain. It exports 80% of its production to various countries in the EU, Asia and the Americas. ICL Iberia Suria & Sallent currently operates two mines, in Suria and Sallent, both of which are located in Barcelona province and are approximately 530 to 900 meters below ground. \
PRODUCTS & RAW MATERIALS
kt = THOUSANDS OF TONS
Extracting potash from underground mines in Spain is conducted by mining sylvinite, a mixture of potash and salt found in varying concentrations. The potash is then separated from the salt at production plants located near the mines.
ICL Iberia is immersed in an ambitious project to modernize and expand its industrial activities, with the aim of sustainable mining practices.
ICL is currently progressing with a multi-year project to consolidate its Spanish mines and processing facilities into one complex, which will operate a ramp instead of a shaft, thus increasing the mine’s capacity. The project also consists of expanding capacity, adjusting logistics and the construction of a new, deep-water terminal in the Port of Barcelona, as well as other developments.
The new ICL Terminal will support significant environmental improvements. These include facilities and transport by train, that will decrease air pollution and GHG. New dust collection systems with high-capacity filters at all discharge points. Train transport will be maximized, drastically reducing the number of trucks transporting materials from Bages to the Port. In addition, a part of the electricity needed will be produced on-site with solar energy. Photovoltaic panels will be installed on the roofs of buildings.
Area 80,500 m2
Concession: 35 years
Annual ship loading capacity: 4 million tones
Investment: 77 million euros
The increase in rail transport, along with the launch of the ramp, are further evidence of ICL and FGC’s global commitment to the environment and the decarbonization of transport.
Increasing the number of freight trains between Bages and the Port of Barcelona
ICL Iberia and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC – The Catalan Railways Authority) have signed a new agreement to increase the number of trains transporting potash and salt from the Bages mines to the Port of Barcelona.
This agreement, for increasing in the number of freight convoys to the Port, entails an initial reduction of about 86,000 trucks per year with the corresponding decrease in CO₂ emissions, as well as contributing to the increase in road safety.
The agreement is valid for 30 years and will double the amount of ore that the company transports to the port by train, reaching about two million tons each year.
Read MoreICL conducts its mining activities in Spain pursuant to concessions granted to it by the Spanish government. In 2015, in accordance with the provisions of the Spanish Waste Management regulation, ICL Iberia submitted to the Government of Catalonia a mining site restoration plan for its two production sites in Suria and Sallent which included a plan for handling salt deposits and dismantling facilities. The restoration plan for the Suria site is scheduled to extend to 2094 and the Sallent site until 2070. A multi-year program is also underway to restore the salt deposits, while addressing issues such as wastewater drainage and sludge treatment.
ICL Iberia and the Surrounding Communities
ICL Iberia is both an economic engine in the region as well as a social engine in the Bages region. Apart from providing hundreds of jobs, ICL Iberia is greatly involved with various community initiatives.
Read MoreUpcoming closure of production activities at Vilafruns mine
Just prior to the publication of this report (July 2020), ICL announced its decision to halt production at the Vilafruns mine in Spain.
Mining at Vilafruns, originally scheduled to cease in 2015, was due to continue into 2021, when an infrastructure upgrade at the nearby ICL Suria mine was expected to be completed.
However, recent challenges, including current market conditions, COVID-19 related restrictions and a high level of operating costs at Vilafruns, have brought forward the planned closure. ICL is in parallel continuing to step-up production in the Suria mine.
Sustainability Reporting Disclosures:
Disclosure: 301-1
