PORT authorities in Ivory Coast have dismissed safety fears about a moored boat loaded with 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which is the same compound that caused a catastrophic blast in Lebanon four years ago.
Ammonium nitrate is commonly used as an agricultural fertiliser, but is also potentially explosive.
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Its presence in the waters off the busy city of Abidjan – home to more than six million people – has caused alarm among some residents.
Part of this same cargo, which began its journey in Russia, ended up being dumped off the coast of England last year after it became contaminated by fuel oil following a rough sea voyage.
A local MP in the county of Norfolk said that dump was “environmental terrorism”.
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The remaining ammonium nitrate was then transferred to another ship – called the Zimrida – which reached Ivory Coast eight days ago.
“Following allegations of damage to the cargo transported and as a precaution to protect the population and property,” the vessel will remain in the outer harbour, say port authorities.
Ivorian officials insist that what is now left on board the Zimrida has been subject to the most stringent safety checks.
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Wary locals still remember the impact of the unloading of toxic waste at the port of Abidjan nearly two decades ago.
Seeking to reassure the local population, officials invited the BBC and other journalists on board the Zimrida on Tuesday to see the cargo.
