Report: Europe revives Syria phosphate imports, profiting Russian firm
July 1, 2022, 11:09 am

Report: Europe revives Syria phosphate imports, profiting Russian firm

Damascus Chamber of Industry supports the Russian army in its war against Ukraine by setting up road signs bearing the picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin across the Syrian capital. The sign reads “victory to Russia” (File photo: Damascus Chamber of Industry official Facebook page)

A report said Thursday (June 30), Syrian phosphates used for fertilizer are being exported to Europe in bulk, benefitting a Russian firm and the sanctions-hit Damascus regime.

Italy, Bulgaria, Spain and Poland are among the EU states receiving Syrian phosphates, according to the report by a consortium of investigative journalists led by Lighthouse Reports and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.

The investigation said, citing customs documents and trade data, Serbia and Ukraine are also major buyers of Syrian phosphates. Serbia has imported $72 million since 2017, while Ukraine has imported $30 million over the past four years.

According to trade data reported to the United Nations, Italy and Bulgaria resumed trade over the past two years. Spain and Poland started importing Syrian phosphates in January, with the former purchasing around $900,000 and the latter $37,000 so far this year.

The regime in Syria has since 2015 been heavily backed by Russia in its long-running civil war.

An agricultural worker drives a tractor spreading fertilizers to a field of winter wheat near the village of Husachivka in Kyiv region, Ukraine April 17, 2020. (File photo: Reuters)

International sanctions do not ban the import of Syrian phosphates but key Russian and Syrian players involved in the trade are sanctioned by the US or Europe, which raises questions over liability.

The trade is growing fast as the war in Ukraine drives up fertilizer and phosphate prices, raising demand for cheap and high-quality Syrian phosphates which were among the country’s top exports before the outbreak of war in 2011.

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According to the report, the export deals are managed by companies linked to Stroytransgaz, a Russian construction giant that controls Syria’s Tartus port and state-run fertilizer factories, along with the right to extract and sell phosphates for a period of 50 years from a key mine.

Thirty per cent of the revenues from phosphate sales are reserved for the Syrian state, according to experts not involved in the report.

Stroytransgaz is owned by a close associate of President Vladimir Putin. It denies it is working in Syria but the investigation said it found senior officials from the Russian company oversee these contracts.

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According to the investigation, the sales to Europe are carried out quietly, with cargo ships disabling their tracking systems while heading towards Syria and reappearing en route to Europe later.

The investigation alleged, the European sales are propping up a complex network of shell companies and middlemen, including Lebanese shipping company Mediterranean Petroleum and Shipping.

According to the report, two trading companies managed by a Lebanese businessman have arranged for Syrian phosphates to arrive in Serbia via Romania.

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The report added, Phosphate sales to Europe help line the pockets of Syrian and Russian war profiteers, including a Syrian militia-turned-security company owned by two business figures close to the Damascus regime.

The report also asserts that the trade boon offers no benefits for Syrian farmers who have struggled since the government scrapped fertilizer subsidies last year amid shortages and price hikes.

Source: alarabiyaenglish

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”