Somalev Deploys Two Crawler Cranes for OCP Sulfur Storage Projects
30-Second Takeaway
Moroccan heavy-lift specialist Somalev completed the lifting and assembly work for two sulfur storage halls at OCP Group sites in Mzinda and Safi. Two teams worked in parallel, using a Liebherr LR 1750/2 SX and a Terex-Demag CC 2800 crawler crane. The Mzinda hall provides 100,000 tonnes of storage across 22 vaults, while the Safi hall has capacity for 20,000 tonnes. At peak production, the teams lifted close to 1,800 tonnes of precast concrete elements per week and placed them at heights approaching 30 metres. SOGEA Maroc led construction as EPC contractor; Somalev engineered and carried out the lifting and assembly operations.
Somalev Completes Parallel Lifting Operations at Mzinda and Safi
Somalev completed the heavy-lifting and assembly scope for two solid sulfur storage halls built for OCP Group under the SP2M programme. One facility is at OCP’s industrial platform in Safi; the other is at Mzinda. The projects were carried out by two dedicated teams working simultaneously.
The Mzinda hall has a storage capacity of 100,000 tonnes, arranged across 22 concrete vaults with an internal radius of 37 metres. The separate Safi hall holds 20,000 tonnes. One of the completed structures incorporated nearly 20,000 tonnes of precast concrete.
The scale of the work required close coordination between the construction and lifting teams. SOGEA Maroc acted as EPC contractor and led construction. Somalev was responsible for lifting engineering, crane selection, handling studies, lifting methods and execution of the assembly operations. The companies developed installation procedures for the project, with Somalev describing their joint approach as focused on safety and schedule efficiency.
Crawler Cranes Lift Precast Elements to Nearly 30 Metres
Somalev deployed a Liebherr LR 1750/2 SX and a Terex-Demag CC 2800 across the two sites, supported by auxiliary equipment and tools developed for the installation process. The source information does not assign a specific crane to each site, so the equipment is described as serving the combined parallel operation.
At peak production, the teams lifted close to 1,800 tonnes of precast elements per week. Individual elements were positioned at heights approaching 30 metres, comparable to a 10-storey building. The work required the crane teams to coordinate lifting with the assembly sequence, positioning each precast component as the storage structures took shape.
The LR 1750/2 SX is built on Liebherr’s 750-tonne-class LR 1750/2 crawler crane. Liebherr’s SX boom system uses wider lattice sections to increase boom stability and lifting capacity; with selected SX configurations, the crane can reach the 1,000-tonne class. The Terex-Demag CC 2800 is a 600-tonne-class crawler crane. These are model ratings, not the weights of individual lifts at the OCP sites.
Heavy-Lift Engineering Supported the Storage Hall Construction
The lifting scope began before crane operations, with Somalev carrying out handling studies, selecting equipment and developing lifting methods for the two construction sites. The company’s role covered both the engineering preparation and execution of the lifting and assembly work.
Running both projects in parallel meant coordinating two full teams, two large crawler cranes and supporting equipment across Mzinda and Safi. The scale of the precast work is reflected in the weekly installation rate and the height at which the elements were placed. Somalev says the projects were delivered by 100 percent Moroccan teams.
Sulfur is an industrial raw material used in producing sulfuric acid and phosphate fertilizers. The halls add storage capacity to OCP’s industrial operations at Safi and Mzinda.
About the Companies
Somalev
Somalev is a Moroccan heavy-lift engineering and logistics company founded in 2014. It supports industrial, energy, infrastructure and manufacturing projects with lifting studies, lift plans, crane operations, heavy transport and project logistics. For the Mzinda and Safi storage halls, Somalev handled the lifting engineering, equipment selection and assembly operations, with Moroccan teams working at both sites.
View website: https://somalev.com/
SOGEA Maroc
SOGEA Maroc is part of VINCI Construction and has worked in Morocco for more than a century. Its construction activities include hydraulic works, civil engineering, industrial projects and buildings. For the two sulfur storage halls, SOGEA Maroc served as the EPC contractor and led construction, while coordinating with Somalev on the lifting and installation methods.
View website: https://sogea-maroc.com/
OCP Group
Headquartered in Morocco, OCP Group produces and supplies phosphate-based products for agriculture and industry. Its operations include extracting phosphate rock and processing it into products such as phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers. OCP commissioned the two storage halls under the SP2M programme to support its sites at Mzinda and Safi; sulfur is a raw material used in producing sulfuric acid and phosphate fertilizers.
View website: https://www.ocpgroup.ma/en/
Liebherr
Liebherr is a family-run technology group founded in Germany in 1949, with a broad portfolio that includes mobile and crawler cranes. Its LR 1750/2 is a 750-tonne-class crawler crane, and the SX boom system can increase lifting capacity into the 1,000-tonne class in selected configurations. Somalev deployed an LR 1750/2 SX for the sulfur storage hall projects.
View website: https://www.liebherr.com/
Tadano / Demag
Tadano is a global lifting equipment manufacturer with a history dating to 1919 and operations shaped by crane businesses in Japan, Germany, Italy and other markets. The CC 2800 used on the OCP projects is a Terex-Demag crawler crane model in the 600-tonne class. Tadano’s crane group includes the Demag legacy.
View website: https://www.tadano.com/
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Somalev complete for OCP Group?
Somalev completed the lifting and assembly operations for two solid sulfur storage halls: one at OCP’s Safi industrial platform and one at the Mzinda site. SOGEA Maroc led construction as EPC contractor.
What are the storage capacities of the two halls?
The Mzinda hall has a capacity of 100,000 tonnes across 22 vaults with a 37-metre internal radius. The separate Safi hall has a capacity of 20,000 tonnes.
Which crawler cranes did Somalev use?
The two cranes were a Liebherr LR 1750/2 SX and a Terex-Demag CC 2800. Somalev deployed them with two dedicated teams to carry out lifting work simultaneously at the two sites.
How much precast concrete was lifted?
The teams lifted close to 1,800 tonnes of precast elements per week at peak production. One of the completed structures incorporated nearly 20,000 tonnes of precast concrete.
How high were the precast elements placed?
Elements were positioned at heights approaching 30 metres, roughly the height of a 10-storey building.
What was Somalev responsible for?
Somalev handled the lifting methodology, handling studies, equipment selection and execution of lifting and assembly operations. SOGEA Maroc led the overall construction as EPC contractor.
What are the cranes’ rated capacities?
The Liebherr LR 1750/2 is a 750-tonne-class crawler crane; Liebherr’s SX system can increase the lifting capacity into the 1,000-tonne class in selected configurations. The Terex-Demag CC 2800 is rated in the 600-tonne class. These are model ratings; the project information does not specify the weight of each lift.
