The Phoenix Plan
The Phoenix plan is a strategic project that includes the industrial development of the Bages basin which will create a wide impact related to the infrastructure and logistics of the area, as well as on international markets. With an initial investment of more than 240 million euros, the Phoenix Plan involves the extension and modernization of ICL’s facilities, improvement of transport infrastructure, expansion of logistics facilities at the Port of Barcelona and increased production of salt and potash.
As a result of the Phoenix Plan, ICL will be in a position to produce more than one million tonnes of potash annually for international markets. In addition, ICL will produce over 750,000 tonnes of high quality vacuum salt with over 99% purity for the chemical industry. ICL Iberpotash is currently developing the first phase of the plan, with the construction of a 5 kilometer ramp at the Cabanasses mine to enable access to the 900 meters-deep mine. The ramp will use high-tech machinery to significantly increase the efficiency of extracting minerals in the mine as well as improve safety conditions. In parallel, a first innovative salt plant has been completed and the construction of a new terminal at the Port of Barcelona to accommodate an increased number of large freight ships is underway.
"We consider this new infrastructure one of our most important projects because it represents the realization of the salt deposits restoration process and is an example of our commitment to the Bages region and our environmental and sustainable policies". Carles Aleman, Chief Executive Officer of ICL Iberia
The Salt Purification Plant
In 2018, ICL Iberia launched a new salt purification plant at its Sallent site, adjacent to the Cogulló salt deposit. 2.5 million euros were invested in the new plant, which has a capacity to process 450 thousand tonnes of salt per year, averaging 50 tonnes per hour. The new plant is a part of a systematic plan to reduce the salt accumulated at the Cogulló deposit.
The new plant is part of a comprehensive plan that ICL Iberia has promoted to reduce the amount of salt accumulated in the Cogulló deposit, while also beginning the process of restoring the area surrounding the salt deposits. The new process uses the salt byproduct, which was previously stored in the deposit, to create a high-quality salt that is in demand by various industries.
