IFC has several active projects with Indorama Corporation and Chemicals (Indorama) and is leading a debt financing package to Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals (IEFCL), part of Indorama, for the construction of a third urea fertilizer line (“Line 3”). In 2012, IFC supported the construction of the first urea fertilizer facility (“Line 1”) and the second urea fertilizer line (“Line 2”), located at the same site as Line 1 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in 2018. In 2024, IFC committed to finance Line 3.

In May 2024, CAO received a complaint from two local civil society organizations (CSOs), supported by the Bank Information Center (BIC), on behalf of four complainants from the Eleme region in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The complaint raised several environmental and social concerns, including water pollution and the loss of marine biodiversity in the Okulu River; air pollution and its associated health impacts on the community; loss of livelihoods; limited access to employment and poor working conditions; as well as inadequate stakeholder engagement and insufficient public consultation. A similar complaint was also submitted to the Independent Accountability Mechanism (IAM) of the United States International Development Finance Corporation (USDFC).

In July 2024, CAO found the complaint eligible and initiated an assessment. During the assessment process, both parties decided to address the issues raised in the complaint through CAO’s Compliance function. In accordance with CAO Policy, the case was transferred to CAO’s Compliance function for appraisal of IFC’s environmental and social performance on December 11, 2024.

On June 24, 2025, CAO finalized its compliance appraisal report and submitted it to the IFC Board. As a result of the appraisal, CAO has decided to initiate an investigation into IFC’s environmental and social performance related to this project. In accordance with the CAO Policy, IFC Management has 10 business days from the date of the report’s circulation (until July 10, 2025) to request a Board review of CAO’s appraisal decision. CAO will update the case status on July 11, 2025.