Fatima fertilizer continues to struggle to build a nitrogen production facility under the name The Midwest Fertilizer Company, in Posey County, Indiana. The Pakistani firm came under scrutiny and even lost state funding from Governor Mike Pence when Lt General Barbero -- now retired -- from the Department of Justice reported Fatima product in Pakistan was used in the construction of improvised explosive devices, and used against U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan.
Fatima has since complied with Barbero’s requests for a new formula, new packaging and a new attitude about fertilizer production. The citizens of Posey County are satisfied with Gen, Barbero’s subsequent report that stated Fatima had reformulated it’s CAN fertilizer into a less volatile form, repackaged dangerous material so that it was easy to distinguish, and tightened down operations in shipping to ensure no CAN gets into the hands of insurgents.
Fatima had hired Washington D.C. firm Levick Strategic Communications, LLC on February 6, 2013 to handle the red tape, politics and publicity here in the states. But a lawsuit has been filed against Fatima in which Levick claims that Fatima and the Midwest Fertilizer Company owe them nearly 400,000 in fees and travel expenses.
Levick claims that, in addition to work in the U.S. that it sent a creative team to Pakistan to film a promotional video that showcases Fatima’s new, safer formula. Midwest Fertilizer has used the video for promotional purposes, but Levick claims it was never paid for their services beyond an initial retainer.
Fatima shot back that Levick has not lived up to Fatima’s expectations and accuses Levick of double billing, and limited support for the project. So far, an official rebuttal has yet to surface, but the Pakistanis have 21 days to file a response.
Despite all the trouble, Posey County officials are undeterred and expect the nitrogen production facility to provide economic and agricultural stimulus to the growers and citizens of Indiana.
