The government of Iraq is hoping the discovery of major phosphate deposits in its western desert will help boost the country’s economy and diversify its oil-focused economy.
According to studies carried out by the US Geological Survey and its Iraqi counterpart Geosurv, Iraq holds phosphate rock reserves of 5.75bn tonnes – the second largest in the world after Morocco.
In a presentation at the Iraq Mining 2011 conference in London this week, USGS geologist Greg Fernette described the phosphate finds as “world class deposits”.
Iraq already has an established phosphate operation at Akashat,...