OCP refrigerated tanks in Morocco

Foundations and reinforced concrete civil works for eight double-wall 4,300-cubic-metre tanks for stocking liquefied ammonia in the OCP plant of Jorf Lasfar (Morocco).

These tanks were built in the main plant for processing phosphates mined in southern Morocco.

The tanks are insulated, double-wall steel structures; they are made up of a cylindrical inner wall of diameter 17 metres and height 19 metres and a cylindrical outer wall of diameter 19.4 metres and height 20.7 metres, with a spherical cap cover 2.6 metres high on top of the cylindrical wall.

The foundations are made of a reinforced concrete slab of diameter 20.6 metres and thickness 50 cm, supported by a lean concrete base of variable thickness, depending on the actual depth of the marly substratum. The platform supports 24 radial walls 30 cm thick, supporting a second reinforced concrete slab of diameter 20.1 metres and 50 cm thick, supporting the tank, at a level higher than the ground.

The foundations for the plants connected with the tanks and for four control buildings were also designed.

Services provided: Constructive project and technical assistance to the implementation of the civil works and the foundations.

Client: PARESA S.p.A.

Site: OCP plant at Jorf Lasfar (Morocco).

Years: 2012-2013.

Cost of works: about 27 million Euros