LANKA PHOSPHATE LIMITED (STATE COMPANY)

Eppawala apatite deposit discovered in 1971 is situated in the Anuradhapura District in the North Central province, which is about 240 km from Colombo. Eppawala deposit is a valuable asset and one of the important apatite deposits in the world. This apatite contains phosphorus that has been used as a source of phosphate fertilizer for about 3 decades. This deposit has a high phosphate pentoxide content averaging 30 – 40% is the only fertilizer extracted locally (except for dolomite). At present the use of Eppawala phosphate is around 45,000 mt. per annum. Before the discovery of this deposit large amount of rock phosphate were imported. Now Imported Rock Phosphate imports have come down and its consumption has overtaken by local phosphates.

The financial year 2005/06 records the 2nd highest sales of 44,211 mt for any financial year. Reaching 44,000 mt in the year 2005/06 affected by reduced demand for local rock phosphates due revised fertilizer subsidy for Triple Super Phosphate is note worthy. Our promotional activities carried out in national level have a good effect in the fertilizer sector and we have been receiving encouraging results over the years. Sales for the last 10 years are tabulated below.

This deposit is estimated to contain resources of 60 million mt and now mined mainly for manufacturing direct application phosphate fertilizers. Presently ore is mined and grind to 100 mesh size by two stage grinding to produce Rock Phosphate fertilizer (ERP 28%) and High Grade Eppawala Rock Phosphate (HERP 40%) for perennial crops.

With the introduction of High-Grade Eppawala Rock Phosphate (HERP) in late 2002 the market totally absorbed it as a potential substitute for the various types of imported rock phosphates. Only 110 mt. of IRP had been imported during the year 2003 and not a single ton of IRP had been imported during the year 2004 & 2005. This itself clearly indicates that the recognition that has been earned by HERP within a short period of time.

Imported Rock Phosphate Imports

The economy of Sri Lanka is in a position that demands the use of its resources to develop the Agriculture.  The contribution of Agriculture to the National economy is dropping due various factors and increased fertilizer prices are one such reason. The nature of the Eppawela Apatite deposit strongly favours the production of SSP.  Further SSP is an environmentally friendly product.  A viable SSP industry can improve this situation by providing cheaper, available fertilizer while at the same time acting as import substitution saving Rs. 900 mln. per annum.

The main problem of the Eppawela Rock Phosphate is that its low solubility, preventing it’s been used in short age food crops and also slightly acidic to neutral soils in the dry and intermediate soils in Sri Lanka. Hence, its solubility has to be increased to use in short duration crops. Also, performance of SSP has not been tested over TSP in food crop sector.

In 2004 we have produced limited quantity of Single Super Phosphate (SSP) from Eppawela Rock Phosphate (Citric acid soluble P content of SSP ranged from 16-21%) and initiated field experiments in collaboration with Rice Research and Development Institute (RRDI) to study the suitability of them to be used in rice. Initially field experiments were started at Batalagoda and Bombuwala and later these experiments were extended to farmer’s field in island wide.