Uranium, Cadmium, Phosphates: What is Russia Looking for in Syria?
Russia has in Syria not only militarypoliticalbut economic interests. They are associated both with oil and gas, and with the production of phosphates. It is known that now Russia ranks fourth in the world in the production of phosphates, but this does not mean that it should abandon the opportunities that open up in Syria. Yes, much less phosphate is mined in Syria than in Russia, but our country’s interest in Syrian deposits has pretty good reasons.
Recently, Stroytransgaz, owned by well-known Russian billionaire Gennady Timchenko, has signed an agreement on the production of phosphates in Syria for a period of fifty years. At this time and during each year, the company plans to produce 2,2 million tons of phosphates per year in Syrian fields. Syria will receive 30% of the production of phosphates, since the process will involve the Syrian structure - the Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, which has the appropriate resource capabilities and qualified specialists. By the way, Timchenko's company had previously invested in Syria by building a gas processing plant and starting the construction of another such plant in the vicinity of Raqqa.
Now in the Syrian Arab Republic, 2,4 million tons of phosphate are mined per year, but the potential of the deposits makes it easy to raise the production bar to 5 million tons per year. Moreover, with the help of Russia, the Syrian government forces managed to regain control of the Kneifis and Al-Sharqiya fields. Interestingly, shortly before this, phosphate mines were occupied by Iranian troops, but Moscow and Damascus made every effort to ensure that the Iranians left the deposits. As it turned out, this was not done in vain - Russia itself has plans for the extraction of phosphates in Syria.
Now analysts from various publications are arguing among themselves what is behind the Russian interest in Syrian phosphates. One of the reasons is the possibility of re-exporting phosphates to the EU countries through Syria - after Europe introduced economic sanctions against Russia. Another version implies that Russia, starting to exploit Syrian phosphate deposits, is thereby going to maintain control over the fertilizer market in the EU countries. Not so long ago in Europe they began to talk about the high cadmium content in Russian phosphates. The phosphates mined in Syria have a low cadmium content and, therefore, even if the European Union decides not to purchase Russian phosphates, Moscow will still retain control over the fertilizer market, continuing to supply Syrian phosphates to European countries.
Finally, there is another likely reason for interest in Syrian phosphates. It is due to the fact that Syrian phosphates contain a rather high proportion of uranium. Its concentration per metric ton is about 300 grams, which is 100 grams higher than in other phosphates. It is possible that uranium will be separated in the production of phosphate fertilizers. According to some, such Technology Before the war, they were already mastered by Syrian specialists. As for the political aspects of the extraction of phosphates in Syria, they consist in the further displacement of Iran from Syrian territory. It turns out that Russia, taking control of the Syrian deposits, pushed Tehran. This, incidentally, is not so bad for the West either, since the Iranians could use the obtained uranium in their nuclear programs.
Recently, Stroytransgaz, owned by well-known Russian billionaire Gennady Timchenko, has signed an agreement on the production of phosphates in Syria for a period of fifty years. At this time and during each year, the company plans to produce 2,2 million tons of phosphates per year in Syrian fields. Syria will receive 30% of the production of phosphates, since the process will involve the Syrian structure - the Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, which has the appropriate resource capabilities and qualified specialists. By the way, Timchenko's company had previously invested in Syria by building a gas processing plant and starting the construction of another such plant in the vicinity of Raqqa.
Now in the Syrian Arab Republic, 2,4 million tons of phosphate are mined per year, but the potential of the deposits makes it easy to raise the production bar to 5 million tons per year. Moreover, with the help of Russia, the Syrian government forces managed to regain control of the Kneifis and Al-Sharqiya fields. Interestingly, shortly before this, phosphate mines were occupied by Iranian troops, but Moscow and Damascus made every effort to ensure that the Iranians left the deposits. As it turned out, this was not done in vain - Russia itself has plans for the extraction of phosphates in Syria.
Now analysts from various publications are arguing among themselves what is behind the Russian interest in Syrian phosphates. One of the reasons is the possibility of re-exporting phosphates to the EU countries through Syria - after Europe introduced economic sanctions against Russia. Another version implies that Russia, starting to exploit Syrian phosphate deposits, is thereby going to maintain control over the fertilizer market in the EU countries. Not so long ago in Europe they began to talk about the high cadmium content in Russian phosphates. The phosphates mined in Syria have a low cadmium content and, therefore, even if the European Union decides not to purchase Russian phosphates, Moscow will still retain control over the fertilizer market, continuing to supply Syrian phosphates to European countries.
Finally, there is another likely reason for interest in Syrian phosphates. It is due to the fact that Syrian phosphates contain a rather high proportion of uranium. Its concentration per metric ton is about 300 grams, which is 100 grams higher than in other phosphates. It is possible that uranium will be separated in the production of phosphate fertilizers. According to some, such Technology Before the war, they were already mastered by Syrian specialists. As for the political aspects of the extraction of phosphates in Syria, they consist in the further displacement of Iran from Syrian territory. It turns out that Russia, taking control of the Syrian deposits, pushed Tehran. This, incidentally, is not so bad for the West either, since the Iranians could use the obtained uranium in their nuclear programs.
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