The new production facility will further refine the product characteristics of the existing fine-grained product, so that KCl 99 can then be produced at a new level of quality. Thanks to the coarser granulation, the spreadability of the product will be increased and its storage and handling improved. The production line comprises a mechanical facility for compacting as well as an additional building for storage and loading.

For the Potash and Magnesium Products business segment and the Zielitz potash plant, this investment of more than 20 million euros means a significant further strengthening. 'This is a clear commitment to Germany and a signal to the region and the people living here - especially to the more than 1,800 employees of the plant and their families', says Dr. Andres. Already now, considerable added value is being created with the activities at the site. Andres: 'The people in the region, companies based here and the local economy will all profit from this as well'. The plant's share in the total production of K+S KALI GmbH amounts to about 30 per cent.

KCl 99 in compacted form is used in industrial production processes. The front runner among the industrial application areas is chlorine-alkaline electrolysis. Far more than half of the planet's demand for potassium chloride of industrial quality is used as a raw material in this process. The chemical precursors and compounds created in this process are indispensable for the production of pharmaceuticals, glass, ceramics and plant protection products.

Soon after the foundation stone has been laid, construction measures will begin, which will probably be completed in the middle of next year. The start of trial operation of the production facility is planned for December 2013. The first volumes of compacted potassium chloride 99 should then be produced in January 2014.

Dates and facts

Production facility for KCl 99 compacted:

-Investment: approx. 21 million euros
-Completion of construction measures: August 2013
-Completion of machine technology and electronics: November 2013
-Trial operation: December 2013
-Probable commissioning: January 2014

Zielitz potash plant:

-Workforce: approx. 1,850
-Trainee ratio: 8%
-Production capacity: approx. 2 million tonnes
-Products: Potash fertilizers/ Industrial potash/ KCl food-grade
-Investments: approx. 28 million euros / year

About K+S KALI GmbH

Within the K+S Group, K+S KALI GmbH is responsible for the potash and magnesium products sphere of operation. In six mines in Germany, the company mines salts containing potash, magnesium and sulphur and produced a wide range of high-quality products from them for the agricultural, industrial, healthcare and food sectors.

More information about K+S KALI GmbH can be found on the company's web-site at www.kali-gmbh.com.