Ukraine may adopt Turkey's experience to reduce dependence on fertilizers imports – experts

Experts at the Ukrainian Institute for the Future Iliya Kusa and Yuriy Romanenko say Ukraine should carefully study Turkey's experience with regard to ammonium nitrate, especially in the context of the recent explosion of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate at a seaport warehouse in Beirut on August 4.

The experts elaborated on the issue in their report "What does the explosion in the port of Beirut teach Ukraine?" published by the Ukrainian news outlet Hvylya on August 26.

Read alsoUkraine sends humanitarian aid to blast-hit BeirutThe authors of the article note the high human-made, terrorist, and environmental risks associated with ammonium nitrate have been a good excuse for some countries to diversify their economies and abandon foreign economic dependence. In particular, the experts draw attention to the experience of Turkey, which completely banned ammonium nitrate imports into its territory a few years ago.

As one of the largest importers of ammonium nitrate in the region (400,000-800,000 tonnes per year), Turkey has long hatched plans to get rid of the dependence of its agro-industrial complex on foreign supplies, especially Russian ones, experts say.

"Over the past decade, the Turkish government has issued a huge carte blanche to domestic chemists, maximally contributing to the expansion, development and renewal of Turkish enterprises engaged in the production of ammonium nitrate and other mineral fertilizers," the report said.

"Today, Turkey is one of the most successful exporters of mineral fertilizers in the region," the experts said.

Ukraine, being a country with its own developed chemical enterprises, imports up to 40% of the total volume of ammonium nitrate required.

According to experts, Ukraine's seaport infrastructure is the weakest point in ammonium nitrate imports, which is not designed to receive, store, and transship such cargo.

Experts believe Ukraine is able to learn from Turkey's experience and get rid of dependence on fertilizer supplies from abroad. To this end, the state must act as an arbiter and moderator between National Joint-Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine, the chemical industry, and the Ukrainian agribusiness sector.