rock phosphate shortage

Not sure if this has been posted before, comes from the following link:

http://precedings.nature.com/documents/2411/version/1


There is a sudden crisis for phosphatic fertilizers world over due to non availability of high grade rock phosphate mineral suitable for the production of these fertilizers. Around 150 million tons of rock phosphate is produced every year 90% of which goes into the production of di ammonium phosphate [DAP] a known phosphatic fertilizer. The crisis is mainly due to depletion of the minable reserves. Mining of Nauru deposit is no more feasible due to the problems of dewatering. The remaining deposits in Senegal are not enough to run the phosphoric acid plant there at even 50%. Israel stopped exporting rock phosphate mineral and instead opted for value added down stream products. China and South Africa stopped the export of rock phosphate. USA a rock phosphate exporting country is now importing the mineral. India is successful in producing high grade phosphate concentrate treating the low grade ores. However India’s high grade phosphate mineral production is only 10% of its requirement.

A couple of years back the cost of production of di ammonium phosphate [DAP] was rupees 12000 per ton. The Government of India used to give a subsidy of rupees 4000 per ton to the producers of DAP. The burden on Government of India due to subsidy on DAP used to be to the tune of 120000 millions of rupees per annum. Now due to the increase in the prices of rock phosphate, sulfur and ammonia the cost of production of DAP is plus 50000 rupees per ton. Subsidy???

As it can be seen that PROM shows equal residual effect which means that the consumption of rock phosphate mineral may be reduced to just half of what it is today if PROM is introduced in place of DAP. I think it is high time to turn to natural and effective technologies.