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PHOSPHATE JULY 2017 • E&MJ; 47 www.e-mj.com nology has since been transferred to much wider use within the minerals in- dustry. According to the paper's authors, "deep cone thickeners are designed around the production of high-viscosity muds. They utilize very deep mud beds and steep floors to be able to produce and discharge muds near the limit of pumpability, and operate at very high rates in terms of thickener area." The paper describes how finely ground phosphate concentrate slurry delivered to Jorf Lasfar contains about 50% solids by weight, before being stored and distribut- ed to the various units at the chemicals complex. Thickening using 20 m-diame- ter deep cone thickeners then increases the pulp density to more than 63% sol- ids, thereby helping OCP to optimize the consumption of sulphuric acid used for phosphate digestion as well as improving the reaction involved in the acid-leach process, the paper explained. Energy Self-sufficiency Speaking at the Energy and Mines confer- ence in London in January 2016, (E&MJ;, April 2016, pp.58-60), Secretary General of Morocco's Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment Abderrahim El Hafidi presented an upbeat picture of the country's drive toward greater use of re- newable energy. Renewables accounted for 34% of generating capacity in 2015. By 2030, Morocco aims to increase this to 52%, despite a projected 250% in- crease in electricity demand, he said. Looking specifically at the mining sector, he noted that "OCP has dramat- ically increased its production, efficien- cy, competitiveness and value-chain presence in recent years, and is by any measure the world's leader in the phos- phate sector. "OCP is Morocco's largest company, its biggest energy consumer and already a case in point as to energy efficiency," he went on. "As part of its multibil- lion-dollar capital expenditure program over 15 years, it has embarked on trail- blazing efforts to curb its energy demand growth, diversify its supply mix and set itself on a path toward full energy self-sufficiency. "Since 2010, OCP has raised its co-generation capacities to 350 MW, covering 60% of its electricity needs in 2015, while additional capacity un - der development will bring this figure to 600 MW in 2020," El Hafidi explained. "Through co-generation and heat-recov- ery facilities, the company will satisfy three-quarters of its total electricity needs by then, including demand generated by the large-scale desalination develop- ments it is currently rolling out. "Besides its energy efficiency efforts, OCP has also put the emphasis on the di- versification of its supply mix, particularly through the development of renewable energy sources such as in its Phosboucraa operations, where 90% of the electricity needed today is supplied by wind energy. Over the coming five years, the compa- ny will be increasing its investments in wind, solar, hydro resources and cogene- ration sources, among others, to achieve Roll Gen ™ System Self-contained, mini power station that generates enough power to run a wide variety of electronic systems CleanScrape ® Cleaner Longest life of any belt cleaner, saving on downtime & maintenance Foundations ™ For Conveyor Safety The fi rst textbook dedicated exclusively to conveyor safety Since 1944. Mining Solutions Delivering Tough, Tested & Innovative • Transfer Point Products • Belt Cleaning Systems • Dust Management • Field Services • Silo Cleaning Solutions • Air Cannons • Engineered Vibration • Railcar Unloading Systems • Conveyor & Safety Training ® Registered trademark of Martin Engineering Company in the US and other select locations. © 2017 Martin Engineering Company. Additional information can be obtained at www.martin-eng.com/trademarks and www.martin-eng.com/patents. A GLOBAL FAMILY call 800.544.2947 or 309.852.2384 email info@martin-eng.com visit martin-eng.com