Senegal is set to take a major step toward agricultural self-sufficiency and industrial expansion with the upcoming launch of a phosphate processing facility in the northeastern region of Matam. This development forms part of the country’s broader strategy to create sustainable jobs and harness local natural resources to address pressing agricultural and economic needs.
The Minister of Industry, Serigne Guèye Diop, shared the announcement in an interview with state media ‘Le Soleil’, highlighting Matam’s rich deposits of tricalcium phosphate, with a concentration of 32%, making it easier and more efficient to extract than phosphate from other regions like Mboro.
Matam’s subsoil contains vast reserves that could position it as one of two major phosphate mining centres in Senegal – the other being Taïba in the west. The creation of these industrial hubs aligns with the new government’s national policy framework, launched in October 2024, which aims to unlock the full economic potential of eight strategically identified zones across the country.
Beyond mining, the Matam project is designed to reinforce Senegal’s agricultural autonomy. With the capacity to produce between two and three million tonnes of fertiliser annually, exceeding current outputs from Taïba- the new plant is expected to offer fertilisers at significantly reduced prices, thus improving crop yields for staple foods such as rice, maize, and sorghum.
Three major developments are planned in the Matam region: a fertiliser blending plant with support from the World Bank, projected to produce up to 150,000 tonnes annually; a large-scale phosphate processing complex spanning up to 1,000 hectares; and a specialised university modelled on Morocco’s experience, aimed at training local talent in phosphate-related fields.
The project is expected to boost phosphate-based development, and enhance industry, education, and food security.
