Nitrogen+Syngas 389 May-Jun 2024
31 May 2024
Nitrogen Industry News
Nitrogen Industry News
UNITED STATES
FEED study for new low-carbon ammonia plant
Topsoe has signed a contract with CF Industries, the world’s largest producer of ammonia, for the licensing and engineering supporting a front-end engineering and design (FEED) study of a new low-carbon ammonia plant in Louisiana. CF Industries is evaluating the project in collaboration with leading ammonia marketer Mitsui & Co., Ltd. The project would produce low-carbon ammonia for use as a decarbonised energy source.
Henrik Rasmussen, Managing Director, The Americas, Topsoe, said: “We believe low-carbon ammonia helps unlock the door towards a net zero future. Our technology offers a cost-effective route to producing low carbon ammonia while also enabling carbon capture, at industrial proven scale. CF and Topsoe have a long-standing relationship spanning many decades and we are proud to extend our collaboration with this award.”
JERA looking for offtake from Exxon plant
JERA says that it has reached a project framework agreement with ExxonMobil to jointly explore low carbon hydrogen and ammonia production project in the United States. ExxonMobil is currently developing what is expected to be the world’s largest low-carbon hydrogen production plant at its Baytown Complex east of Houston, Texas, United States. The plant is slated to have an annual production capacity of approximately 900,000 t/a of low-carbon hydrogen and annual production capacity of more than 1.0 million t/a of low-carbon ammonia. The project aims to commence production in 2028. Under the terms of the new agreement, JERA and ExxonMobil will explore JERA’s ownership participation in the project and procurement of approximately 500,000 t/a annually of low-carbon ammonia produced by the project for demand in Japan.
“Cooperation among leading companies is essential to establish supply chains for ammonia, hydrogen, and other products that are key to zero-emission thermal power,” said Steven Winn, JERA’s Senior Managing Executive Officer and Chief Global Strategist. “We believe that working together with ExxonMobil, who is actively promoting investment in carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen, will contribute to the transition to a global decarbonised society.”
BRAZIL
Restart for Araucaria
The board of Petrobras has approved the resumption of operations at the company’s Araucária Nitrogenados SA (ANSA) site at Araucaria, Parana state. The plant, which has the capacity to produce 475,000 t/a of ammonia and 720,000 t/a of urea, has been idled 2020. The plant can also produce 450,000 m³/year of diesel exhaust fluid as a 10% urea solution. Petrobras is moving back into fertilizer production after previously closing down all of its plants, following a strategic review last year, and the first phase is to revamp and restart existing assets. The board directive mandates that ANSA carry out a detailed survey of the plant, to assess equipment integrity and develop a plan for restarting the unit.
SWEDEN
New duplex tube for acid environments
Alleima has introduces new advanced super-duplex tube tailored for acids. SAF™ 3006 is a high-alloy duplex stainless steel tailored to enhance corrosion resistance in acidic and caustic environments. The new alloy, an upgrade to traditional super-duplex stainless steels, adds to the company’s growing duplex portfolio. The main application is heat exchanger tubing exposed to hydrochloric, sulphuric, formic or other acids. Duplex grades, with a 50-50 austenitic-ferritic structure, offer more than twice the strength of standard stainless steels and superior corrosion resistance. The chemical composition involves a high chromium content of 30% and a molybdenum level of 3.2% to maintain good structural stability and balancing of the alloying elements.
“We’re thrilled to welcome this new super duplex to our expanding duplex family. It provides that ‘missing duplex tool’ for customers battling acids in heat exchangers, giving them that extra edge. With the addition of SAF™ 3006, we strengthen our presence in duplex materials tailored for acidic corrosion, where we see strong growth potential. Applications may include caustic evaporators, acid coolers and evaporators,” said Eduardo Perea, Market & Product Manager EMEA at Alleima Tube Division.
GERMANY
Heraeus focuses on recycled metals
Heraeus Precious Metals has introduced a new range of products made with 100% recycled precious metals. The recycled material is available under the brand name Circlear and based on a mass balance approach. It comes with a significantly lower carbon footprint, thereby helping customers to meet their sustainability goals. Circlear products are available for seven precious metals including gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and iridium. A significant portion of Heraeus’ precious metal product portfolio can be offered as Circlear, catering to diverse industrial applications, such as chemical products, catalytic gauzes, electrical contacts, and pharmaceutical ingredients.
The Circlear recycled precious metals originate from secondary sources, such as spent chemical or automotive catalysts. Recycled precious metals have the same high quality and purity as material from primary extraction but an up to 98% lower carbon footprint. One kilogram of recycled precious metals saves up to 33 metric tons of CO2 , which equates to the average carbon dioxide emissions of a new EU passenger car traveling more than 300,000 kilometers.
“For decades, circularity has been part of Heraeus Precious Metals’ DNA,” emphasized André Christl, CEO of Heraeus Precious Metals. “We recognise our customer’s growing demand for sustainable solutions. With Circlear, we offer a solution that allows our customers to reduce their Scope 3 carbon footprint and to accurately track their progress towards their sustainability goals.”
Mabanaft signs green ammonia supply agreement
German energy company Mabanaft has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with US-based Pattern Energy concerning the supply of green ammonia. The green ammonia would be produced by Pattern Energy at the Port of Argentia, in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, starting in 2027. Pattern Energy is looking to build a new facility with an estimated production capacity of 400 t/d of ammonia. As part of the LoI, Mabanaft also plans to evaluate the opportunity to potentially become a co-investor next to Pattern Energy and share ammonia and infrastructure expertise. The green ammonia, produced with wind energy and hydroelectricity, is expected to make an important contribution to supplying industry in northern Germany and beyond with energy from renewable sources. The LoI was signed by representatives of both companies at Mabanaft’s headquarters in Hamburg in the presence of the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Habeck, the Canadian Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Wilkinson and Hamburg’s Senator for Economic Affairs Leonhard.
Catalyst campaign to remove 2 million t/a CO2 e
Clariant has issued an update on its Clariant Climate Campaign, begun in 2021. It offers nitric acid producers who do not use N2 O exhaust gas treatment a free fill of the company’s transition metal exchanged EnviCat® N2 O-S catalyst. EnviCat® and other solutions can remove up to 99% of the N2 O formed from ammonia oxidation during nitric acid production. Clariant has more than 20 years’ experience in N2 O abatement, with 50 successful installations worldwide, including more than 30 plants with tertiary abatement systems for >99% N2 O removal and 20 with secondary abatement (>95% removal).
Over 66 million tons of nitric acid are produced annually worldwide, mainly for the manufacture of fertilizers. However, around 50% of nitric acid plants run without N2 O reduction, mostly in regions without applicable emission control regulations, leading to emissions equivalent to around 100 million t/a of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), equivalent to the exhaust emissions of over 21 million passenger cars.
Clariant’s campaign will see four successful installations of free N2 O abatement catalysts by the end of 2024, representing 1 million t/a of nitric acid production, and leading to more than 2 million t/a of CO2 e savings, roughly equivalent to taking 500,000 vehicles off the road.
CANADA
Uhde to design fertilizer complex for Saskatchewan
thyssenkrupp Uhde and Genesis Fertilizers have signed a pre-front end engineering and design contract to conceptually develop an integrated fertilizer complex at Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan. The proposed plant will be designed to produce 1,500 t/d of ammonia, 2,600 t/d of urea/UAS granulation, nitric acid and UAN, and will also have the ability to produce Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). thyssenkrupp Uhde will provide engineering solutions for the integration of the product streams of the plant, with a focus on minimising plant emissions. thyssenkrupp Uhde’s EnviNOx® technology, for example, will almost completely eliminate nitrogen oxides from nitric acid production. Furthermore, the design of the plant will consider the potential use of renewable-based hydrogen and electricity.
In a press statement, Jason Mann, President and CEO of Genesis Fertilizers said: “Our primary goal is to ensure the supply of fertilizers to the farmers in Western Canada, based on the most advanced technologies available with the lowest possible carbon footprint. carry out a detailed survey of the plant, to assess equipment integrity and develop a plan for restarting the unit.
SWEDEN
New duplex tube for acid environments
Alleima has introduces new advanced super-duplex tube tailored for acids. SAF™ 3006 is a high-alloy duplex stainless steel tailored to enhance corrosion resistance in acidic and caustic environments. The new alloy, an upgrade to traditional super-duplex stainless steels, adds to the company’s growing duplex portfolio. The main application is heat exchanger tubing exposed to hydrochloric, sulphuric, formic or other acids. Duplex grades, with a 50-50 austenitic-ferritic structure, offer more than twice the strength of standard stainless steels and superior corrosion resistance. The chemical composition involves a high chromium content of 30% and a molybdenum level of 3.2% to maintain good structural stability and balancing of the alloying elements.
“We’re thrilled to welcome this new super duplex to our expanding duplex family. It provides that ‘missing duplex tool’ for customers battling acids in heat exchangers, giving them that extra edge. With the addition of SAF™ 3006, we strengthen our presence in duplex materials tailored for acidic corrosion, where we see strong growth potential. Applications may include caustic evaporators, acid coolers and evaporators,” said Eduardo Perea, Market & Product Manager EMEA at Alleima Tube Division.
GERMANY
Heraeus focuses on recycled metals
Heraeus Precious Metals has introduced a new range of products made with 100% recycled precious metals. The recycled material is available under the brand name Circlear and based on a mass balance approach. It comes with a significantly lower carbon footprint, thereby helping customers to meet their sustainability goals. Circlear products are available for seven precious metals including gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and iridium. A significant portion of Heraeus’ precious metal product portfolio can be offered as Circlear, catering to diverse industrial applications, such as chemical products, catalytic gauzes, electrical contacts, and pharmaceutical ingredients.
The Circlear recycled precious metals originate from secondary sources, such as spent chemical or automotive catalysts. Recycled precious metals have the same high quality and purity as material from primary extraction but an up to 98% lower carbon footprint. One kilogram of recycled precious metals saves up to 33 metric tons of CO2 , which equates to the average carbon dioxide emissions of a new EU passenger car traveling more than 300,000 kilometers.
“For decades, circularity has been part of Heraeus Precious Metals’ DNA,” emphasized André Christl, CEO of Heraeus Precious Metals. “We recognise our customer’s growing demand for sustainable solutions. With Circlear, we offer a solution that allows our customers to reduce their Scope 3 carbon footprint and to accurately track their progress towards their sustainability goals.”
Mabanaft signs green ammonia supply agreement
German energy company Mabanaft has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with US-based Pattern Energy concerning the supply of green ammonia. The green ammonia would be produced by Pattern Energy at the Port of Argentia, in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, starting in 2027. Pattern Energy is looking to build a new facility with an estimated production capacity of 400 t/d of ammonia. As part of the LoI, Mabanaft also plans to evaluate the opportunity to potentially become a co-investor next to Pattern Energy and share ammonia and infrastructure expertise. The green ammonia, produced with wind energy and hydroelectricity, is expected to make an important contribution to supplying industry in northern Germany and beyond with energy from renewable sources. The LoI was signed by representatives of both companies at Mabanaft’s headquarters in Hamburg in the presence of the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Habeck, the Canadian Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Wilkinson and Hamburg’s Senator for Economic Affairs Leonhard.
Catalyst campaign to remove 2 million t/a CO2 e
Clariant has issued an update on its Clariant Climate Campaign, begun in 2021. It offers nitric acid producers who do not use N2 O exhaust gas treatment a free fill of the company’s transition metal exchanged zeolite EnviCat® N2 O-S catalyst. EnviCat® and other solutions can remove up to 99% of the N2 O formed from ammonia oxidation during nitric acid production. Clariant has more than 20 years’ experience in N2 O abatement, with 50 successful installations worldwide, including more than 30 plants with tertiary abatement systems for >99% N2 O removal and 20 with secondary abatement (>95% removal).
Over 66 million tons of nitric acid are produced annually worldwide, mainly for the manufacture of fertilizers. However, around 50% of nitric acid plants run without N2 O reduction, mostly in regions without applicable emission control regulations, leading to emissions equivalent to around 100 million t/a of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), equivalent to the exhaust emissions of over 21 million passenger cars.
Clariant’s campaign will see four successful installations of free N2 O abatement catalysts by the end of 2024, representing 1 million t/a of nitric acid production, and leading to more than 2 million t/a of CO2 e savings, roughly equivalent to taking 500,000 vehicles off the road.
CANADA
Uhde to design fertilizer complex for Saskatchewan
thyssenkrupp Uhde and Genesis Fertilizers have signed a pre-front end engineering and design contract to conceptually develop an integrated fertilizer complex at Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan. The proposed plant will be designed to produce 1,500 t/d of ammonia, 2,600 t/d of urea/UAS granulation, nitric acid and UAN, and will also have the ability to produce Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). thyssenkrupp Uhde will provide engineering solutions for the integration of the product streams of the plant, with a focus on minimising plant emissions. thyssenkrupp Uhde’s EnviNOx® technology, for example, will almost completely eliminate nitrogen oxides from nitric acid production. Furthermore, the design of the plant will consider the potential use of renewable-based hydrogen and electricity.
In a press statement, Jason Mann, President and CEO of Genesis Fertilizers said: “Our primary goal is to ensure the supply of fertilizers to the farmers in Western Canada, based on the most advanced technologies available with the lowest possible carbon footprint.
We are pleased to be working with a strong industry partner that offers expertise in all the processes and technologies involved from a single source.”
Lucretia Löscher, COO thyssenkrupp Uhde said: “This project is a further proof that the transition of the fertilizer industry towards more sustainability has started. Our expertise in clean fertilizer technologies and their integration is essential to support our customers on their journey to protect the climate.”
JAPAN
MAN to supply ammonia engine for bulk freighter
Imabari Shipbuilding will install an MAN B&W 7S60ME-Ammonia engine with selective catalyst reduction (SCR) as part of the construction of a 200,000 dwt class bulk carrier for a joint venture between K Line, NS United and Itochu Corporation. The business represents one of the first projects for MAN Energy Solutions’ ammonia-powered engine currently under development in Denmark.
Brian Østergaard Sørensen, Vice President and Head of Research & Development, Two-Stroke at MAN Energy Solutions, said: “This project marks another important milestone in our ammonia-engine development and indeed for the maritime industry in general. It also confirms that we are on the right track in relation to our dual-fuel ammonia concept where we have gained a great understanding of ammonia’s unique characteristics as a marine fuel via our two-stroke engine testing, which we started in early June 2023. Equally as important, we are confident of how to handle it safely; it is very satisfying to see our hard work beginning to pay off.”
WORLD
Red Sea and Panama crises continue pressuring freight rates
Over the last six months, climate and geopolitical events have disrupted seaborne trade. A record drought in Panama and the unprecedented intensity of attacks on commercial ships by the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea are straining the freight market. Almost 150 ships have been targeted along the latter trade route since the first attack was registered to a non-commercial ship last year.
While vessels in the Panama Canal need to wait for longer to cross it, oil and shipping majors have stopped their vessels from crossing along the Red Sea; and are routing them away from the region. The alternative journey around the Cape of Good Hope in Southern Africa adds around 8.5 days to the journey from East Asia to Europe.
As a result, ship transits through the Panama Canal, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Suez Canal are falling rapidly, with daily crossings reducing by almost 30%, 65% and 45% from year to date, respectively. With vessel transit along the Panama and Red Sea trade routes amounting to almost 20% of seaborne trade, recent events are already impacting transit volumes and freight costs. The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) has risen more than 30% in March since the Houthi attacks to commercial ships began in November, while the corresponding increase for the Global Container Freight (FBX) has been 143% so far.
As seaborne trade accounts for more than 80% of total global trade, these disruptions have potentially important spillovers to the world economy. In particular, trade in the Red Sea accounts for around 15% of global seaborne trade, and is important for oil and gas, dry bulk and container shipping.
Our central view is that the nature of current disruptions to the seaborne market is short-term, and trade fundamentals will shape the long-term direction of freight rates. World volume trade growth remains weak and has shown signs of stagnation over the last 12 months. As the weather outlook begins to improve in Panama, subdued trade is expected to weigh down on freight rates. For instance, the Panama Canal Authority has recently softened the restrictions on the number of ships that can cross the Canal, starting in January. Although the BDI fell briefly in January back to October levels, it is trending up again as more bulk carriers have been targeted by the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
The situation in the Red Sea remains fluid, but any de-escalation will likely see dry bulk freight rates dropping further and container costs limiting upside movements. However, in a severe downside scenario, we do not rule out renewed pressure on freight rates if the conflict in the Red Sea extends or escalates, leading to higher security risks for shipping majors. An intensification of the Red Sea conflict will result in higher container, dry bulk freight rates and could ultimately lead to higher energy prices.
The global supply chain crisis of 202122 saw freight rates soar and queues of ships form offshore major ports. This contributed to the surge in producer prices and consumer price inflation in the US, Europe and other countries. The Global Supply Chain Pressure Index (GSCPI) estimated by the Fed has shown a strong correlation with global PPI inflation over the past few years. Renewed disruptions to supply chains and/or higher energy prices could again cause producer prices to rise which will, in turn, put upward pressure on consumer prices, squeezing consumer real incomes and potentially delaying any easing in monetary policy. This threat is probably greatest for Europe, given the importance of the Red Sea route to Westbound container traffic from East Asia. But higher energy prices would affect most countries. However, a return to the inflation rates of 2021-22 is unlikely in all but a worse-case scenario.
IRAN
Urea plant commissioning from May
Hengam Petrochemicals says that its new urea plant at Assaluyeh will begin pre-commissioning in May. The plant’s ammonia unit started up at the end of 2023 and, according to Hengam Petrochemicals, has sold eleven vessels worth of liquid ammonia so far. The long-delayed plant has been in development for 17 years.
FRANCE
Yara ordered to remove ammonia from Montoir
The Loire-Atlantique prefecture has given Yara six months to remove all ammonia and ammonium nitrate still remaining at its Montoir-de-Bretagne site. Yara announced that it would be ceasing production at the site, which has the capacity to produce 1,200 t/d of ammonium nitrate, in November 2023, but had intended to turn it into an import terminal. Production stopped in October after a plant outage. However, following a power failure which led to the release of nitrogen-laden water into the Loire on March 29th the local government has ruled that the site must have all chemicals removed from it.
AUSTRALIA
Fertilizer sale may be nearing completion
Although the parties involved have been closed mouthed about the process, there are reports that Incitec Pivot’s $1 billion sale of its fertilizer assets to Indonesian fertilizer major Pupuk Kaltim may be nearing a conclusion. Negotiations reportedly began last year after then CEO Jeanne Johns unveiled plans for a demerger of the company’s fertilizer assets to allow it to concentrate in its Dyno Nobel mining and industrial explosives business. However, Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board and some opposition politicians in Queensland have expressed concern over the sale to an Indonesian company, given the importance of its fertilisers and diesel exhaust fluid additive business to the Australian food chain and farmers on the East Coast. Other potential bids are understood to be on the table, including from Australian firms Senex Energy and Wesfarmers.
Gibson Island misses project deadlines
Fortescue Metals, which has been developing a major green hydrogen and ammonia project for Gibson Island, Queensland, has missed its revised March deadline for financial closure and a final investment decision on the project. The deadline was previously extended from December 2023 and again from February 2024. The Gibson Island urea plant is owned by Incitec Pivot (although see the story above), and Genex Power is aiming to develop 450 MW of solar electricity generation at the Bulli Creek solar farm. Fortescue then plans to take 337 MW of output from the solar farm to produce hydrogen, which it would then sell to Incitec Pivot for green ammonia and downstream urea production.
Feasibility study on urea from waste
The Australian Fertilizer Corporation (AFC) is reportedly in the process of evaluating the construction of a 1,000 t/d ammonia plant combined with a 500,000 t/a granular urea plant to be based in Gladstone, Queensland. The project would not use conventional natural gas feedstock but gasification of low cost municipal waste streams. Carbon dioxide from the gasification would be used for urea production, with any excess captured and sold commercially nearby.
ARGENTINA
Nutrien to exit Cono Sur
Bloomberg reports that Nutrien is seeking to sell its retail operations in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay in order to focus on Brazil and other global markets. The company said in its annual report that Argentina’s currency controls meant it lost money when it transferred currency out of the country because it had to use a more expensive exchange rate. New President Javier Milei has promised to scrap the controls as he seeks to deregulate the economy. Nutrien has a 50% stake in ammonia-urea manufacturer Profertil SA, which it runs as a joint venture with Argentinian state oil company YPF SA. YPF is looking to divest assets to focus on shale drilling.
INDIA
Urea imports to end by 2025?
India’s Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya says that the country will stop importing urea in 2025, following the start-up of several major new urea projects in the country. Four of these are now up and running and a fifth remains under development. He said that Indian urea demand stands at around 35 million t/a, and domestic capacity has risen form 22.5 million t/a in 2014-15 to 31 million t/a. The Talcher urea plant should take that figure to 32.5 million t/a, and it was hoped that new developments in urea technology would make up the remainder of the shortfall. Speaking to domestic press, he said that as well as the new builds, the government is making efforts to promote alternate fertilisers like liquid ‘nano’ urea and liquid nano di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) to improve soil health. Imports of urea fell to 7.5 million t/a in fertilizer year 2022-23, against 9.1 million t/a the previous year.
Memorandum signed for new ammonia plant
Indian green technology firm Hygenco Green Energies says that it has signed a binding agreement with the Tata Steel Special Economic Zone Industrial Park (GIP), to establish a large-scale green ammonia project in Gopalpur, Odisha State. Hygenco aims to produce 1.1 million t/a of ‘green’ ammonia from this plant in multiple phases. The company is aiming to commission the first phase of the project by December 2026. This collaboration builds upon the project approval received in February 2024 from the High-Level Clearance Authority of the Chief Minister of Odisha.
Amit Bansal, founder and CEO, Hygenco, said, “Having already demonstrated our mettle in the space of Green Hydrogen by commissioning India’s first green hydrogen project earlier this year, we will extend application of our superior technology to this project thereby producing lowest cost green ammonia for our clients. In line with our strategic vision of being a dominant player in this sector worldwide, the produce from this plant, in the initial phase, will be predominantly exported for which advanced discussions with various off-takers are already taking place.”
Manikanta Naik, Managing Director, Tata Steel Special Economic Zone Limited, said, “We are very happy to have Hygenco on-board with us at the Industrial Park. This solidifies our Industrial Park as a potential green hydrogen/ammonia hub of the country.”
Hygenco has signed several binding long-term offtakes for green hydrogen in India, including a recently commissioned 75 t/a plant for a prominent steel company in Hisar, Haryana. Another for STL (Vendanta Group) at Maharashtra is under construction.
MOROCCO
Collaboration on low carbon ammonia
OCP Group has signed a joint venture agreement with green energy, metals and technology company Fortescue Energy. The 50-50 joint venture aims to supply green hydrogen, ammonia, and fertilizers to Morocco, Europe, and international markets. It includes the potential development of manufacturing facilities and an R&D hub to advance the rapidly growing renewable energy industry in Morocco.
The partners have laid out proposed plans for four cornerstone projects in Morocco, based around large-scale integrated green ammonia and green fertilizer production capacity, including renewables, energy generation, electrolysis, ammonification and fertilizer production; manufacturing of green technology and equipment; a research, development and technology hub, located alongside Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) near Marrakech; and collaboration of corporate venture capital funds to drive investment in key technology advancements.
Mostafa Terrab, Chairman and CEO of OCP Group, said: “Our strategic partnership with Fortescue is a testimony to our joint commitment to decarbonisation, driving the development of cutting-edge facilities and delivering competitive renewable energy, products and technology. This is a key step towards fulfilling our vision of simultaneously ensuring global food security and combating climate change.
Dr Andrew Forrest AO, Fortescue Executive Chair and Founder said: “Together, Fortescue and OCP will build a world-leading and globally competitive platform to accompany Morocco’s journey into a green energy production, manufacturing, and industrial powerhouse… Morocco will be a major player in the global energy transition given it is home to some of the world’s most prospective wind and solar resources, two large coastlines, and is in close proximity to Europe and the Americas.”
TURKMENISTAN
Tender for new urea plant
State-run chemical major Turkmenhimiya has announced an international tender for the design and turnkey construction of an integrated ammonia-urea plant. The facility, the capacity of which is still to be determined, will be constructed near the village of Kiyanly in Turkmenistan’s western Balkan region. Turkmenhimiya already operates three nitrogen plants in the Central Asian country: Marykarbamid, which has capacity to produce 400,000 t/a ammonia and 640,000 t/a of urea; Tejenkarbamid, which has capacity to produce 350,000 t/a urea; and Garabogazkarbamid, which has capacity to produce 640,000 t/a of ammonia 1.16 million t/a of urea.
NORWAY
KBR to supply ammonia technology
KBR says that it has secured a contract to provide green ammonia technology for Fortescue’s Holmaneset green energy project in Norway. KBR will provide the technology license, proprietary engineering design, and front end engineering design (FEED) support engineering services for the Holmaneset green ammonia plant, which will have a capacity of 675 t/d.
The Holmaneset Project is located on the coast of the Nordgulen fjord, 8 km west of Svelgen in western Norway. According to Fortescue, the Holmaneset project will use renewable energy to power an integrated green hydrogen and green ammonia process plant, complete with transmission infrastructure and port facilities, for the transport of green products to the Norwegian and European markets.
“We are excited to work with Fortescue on this project to offer our zero-carbon green ammonia technology,” Jay Ibrahim, President for KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions, said. “KBR is a significant contributor in the development of the green energy value chain and decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries and we look forward to working with Fortescue to advance their ESG objectives”.
