Nitrogen Industry News

Nitrogen Industry News

QATAR

Qafco begins construction of blue ammonia-urea plant

A foundation laying ceremony attended by Qatar’s Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani has been held at Qafco’s new blue ammonia facility at Mesaieed Industrial City on Qatar’s east coast. The plant, which is scheduled to be completed in 4Q 2026, will be the largest blue ammonia facility in the world. Speaking at the ceremony, energy minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said the facility will have a capacity of 1.2 million t/a, along with CO2 injection and storage facilities with a capacity of 1.5 million t/a. QatarEnergy will also provide the new plant with more than 35 MW of electricity from the solar power plant currently being built in Mesaieed. Completion of the complex will see Qatar become the world’s largest exporter of urea, producing 12.4 million t/a, according to Qafco.

EGYPT

MOPCO to begin green hydrogen production in 2027

Misr Fertilizers Production Company (MOPCO) is looking to complete two major projects for green hydrogen production, expand its factory, and boost urea production by the end of 2027, according to local press reports. The green hydrogen project will include establishing a new production facility for 150,000 t/a of green ammonia at Damietta port, on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, alongside MOPCO’s three existing gas-based ammonia plants. The project is being led by a consortium of companies, including MOPCO, Norway’s Scatec, and the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM).

In addition to the green hydrogen project, MOPCO is expanding its production capabilities by increasing the capacity and efficiency of its urea manufacturing operations as well as producing additional melamine.

Another green ammonia project for Egypt

Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) has announced a partnership with Polish company Hynfra to build a green ammonia production facility with an initial investment cost of $1.6 billion. Hynfra reportedly plans to build five green ammonia plants serving Central and Eastern Europe, with Egypt selected as a flagship location. The first phase of the facility, expected by 2030, will produce 400,000 t/a of green ammonia, with an ultimate goal of increasing production to 1 million t/a, based on wind and solar energy. Surplus electricity will support Egypt’s national grid. Hynfra also intends to include energy storage systems and water desalination as part of the project. The project is targeting exports to Europe; the EU has set a goal of importing 6 million t/a of green hydrogen and 4 million t/a of green ammonia by 2030.

MOROCCO

Large scale green hydrogen plans

A UAE-Moroccan private venture says that it is planning to eventually spend $25 billion on a green hydrogen and ammonia project in Morocco. Dahamco has obtained approval from the Moroccan government to set up the project at the Atlantic port of Dakhla on the coast of the disputed Western Sahara region. The first phase would produce 1 million t/a of ammonia at a cost of $4 billion, and Dahamco is targeting first production in 2031, with additional phases coming on stream every 4-5years thereafter.

INDIA

Topsoe to license ammonia technology for renewable project

Topsoe, has signed an agreement with developer Hygenco, to provide ammonia technology for Hygenco’s upcoming green ammonia plant in Gopalpur, Odisha state. Hygenco will use Topsoe’s advanced dynamic green ammonia technology, which Topsoe says allows for flexible and efficient operations while optimising overall performance. This technology will support Hygenco’s ambition of exporting green ammonia to European markets, aligning with the European Union’s Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) regulations.

Elena Scaltritti, Chief Commercial Officer at Topsoe, said: “We look forward to working with Hygenco on this great project, as green ammonia plays a critical role in reducing greenhouse emissions from energy-intensive industries and long-distance transportation. On a global level, we need to deploy decarbonization at scale, and Hygenco’s project will be able to deliver a solid contribution.”

Amit Bansal, Co-Founder and CEO of Hygenco, said: “As the world seeks innovative solutions to tackle pressing environmental and energy challenges, Hygenco is making significant progress in advancing the energy transition and decarbonization. We are excited to leverage the cutting-edge technology of a global leader like Topsoe to scale up green ammonia production effectively.”

The plant is phase one of a three-phase projects at Tata Steel’s Special Economic Zone Industrial Park (GIP) in Gopalpur, Odisha. Phase one of the green ammonia project will have an installed capacity of 750 t/d and is expected to be operational by 2027.

EPC contract for green ammonia project

Belgian based power to X developer Rely has been awarded an EPC contract by AM Green India Ltd for a green ammonia project at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh state. The project will convert part of the feed to two existing 1,500 ammonia plants owned by NFCL, including two 640 MW pressurised alkaline electrolysers to make hydrogen for the plant. A final investment decision was taken in August 2024. The electrolysers will be powered by a combination of wind, solar power and a pumped hydro-electric storage system. Rely will provide design, detailed engineering, procurement services, construction, management and commissioning services for the entire facility. Rely is a joint venture between Technip Energies and hydrogen producer John Cockerill.

Damien Eyriès, Rely CEO commented: “We are honoured and proud of having been selected by AM Green to engineer and deliver this flagship project that will massively contribute to the decarbonization of the hard-to-abate industries and illustrate that India plays a major role in our global climate goals. This award marks a significant milestone for Rely, less than a year after its creation, and our team is poised to make a substantial impact on the future of clean energy, driving innovation and setting new standards in the industry.”

Mahesh Kolli, Group President of AM Green said, “We are excited to partner with Rely to transform our existing Green Ammonia facility into one of the largest in India. Rely’s technical expertise will significantly enhance our capabilities in this project. This collaboration not only establishes AM Green as a global leader in energy transition but also plays a crucial role in advancing India’s green hydrogen mission and supporting net-zero targets in both India and OECD markets.”

SOUTH KOREA

Clean hydrogen auction fails to generate interest

South Korea’s first clean hydrogen power auction has resulted in just one company invited for final negotiations: Korea Southern Power (KOSPO), with its bid to co-fire ammonia at the 2.1 GW Samcheok coal-fired power plant. The South Korean government launched the tender in May this year, offering 15-year contracts to support up to 6,500 GWh of annual power generation from 2028. However, only one company was interested and KOSPO’s Samcheok Green Power Unit 1 will only generate 750 GWh of power from co-firing ammonia, or 11.5% of the auction target. The result illustrates the difficulty of using expensive green ammonia as a power plant feed to reduce the carbon emissions of coal fired power stations, as planned by Japan, Korea and other east Asian countries.

Samsung partnership for green ammonia shipping fuel

The Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KIER) and Samsung Heavy Industries have announced a strategic partnership to drive the development and commercialisation of green ammonia fuel for the shipping industry. The companies say that they will work together to reduce green ammonia production costs by jointly developing innovative technologies, to make green ammonia a more economically viable fuel option. KIER will leverage its expertise in ammonia synthesis to develop multiple technologies that enable the safe handling and utilisation of ammonia, while Samsung will integrate ammonia operation into its ship designs and operations, helping to drive its commercialisation and adoption. KIER says that it has made significant strides in ammonia synthesis technology, recently achieving successful synthesis of liquid ammonia at low pressures (<50 bars) and temperatures (<400C).

Lee Chang-geun, Head of KIER said that, “Low-cost clean ammonia production and safety utilization technology are essential to meet the IMO’s stringent regulations. This collaboration with Samsung Heavy Industries will lay the foundation for a new era of carbon-neutral shipping.”

ANGOLA

Amufert selects KBR as technology licensor

KBR has signed an agreement with Amufert for the development of a new ammonia plant in Soyo, Angola. Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide a technology license, proprietary engineering design, equipment and catalyst solutions for Amufert’s 2,300 t/d ammonia plant.

“We are thrilled to be a part of this project and support AMUFERT’s efforts in accelerating sustainable agriculture in Angola through our leading ammonia technology,” said Jay Ibrahim, KBR President, Sustainable Technology Solutions. “KBR has a proud legacy in Angola, and we look forward to working closely with AMUFERT and our partners to ensure the success of this important project.”

RUSSIA

Taman terminal looking to end 2025 for urea exports

Russian media reports say that OTEKO transport holding will commission its new urea export terminal at the port of Taman by the end of 2025. Throughput of nitrogen fertilizers, both ammonia and urea, is eventually planned to rise to 5 million t/a, with warehouses with a capacity of 300,000 tonnes being constructed in ten separate sections. A 2 million t/a terminal for ammonia export is expected to become operational in the next few months, with ammonia export capacity eventually rising to 3.5 million t/a, while the urea terminal will handle 1.5 million t/a. At present the terminal is handling coal and sulphur exports, but fertilizer exports are due to begin next year. Taman is also currently exporting its 100 millionth tonne of coal, a total achieved in five years, and expects to have exported another 100 million tonnes in 2-2.5 years.

NORWAY

Green ammonia supply agreement

Aker Horizons and VNG have signed an agreement for the supply of green ammonia from Norway to Germany. Their joint venture company, Narvik Green Ammonia DA, will be owned and managed by Aker Horizons Asset Development AS, and the Leipzig-based gas trader VNG Handel & Vertrieb GmbH. VNG says that it intends to purchase up to 150,000 t/a of green ammonia from Narvik Green Ammonia DA from 2029 and supply it to its customers directly as ammonia or in the form of hydrogen. The production plant for green ammonia in Narvik, Norway, is expected to produce around 450,000 t/a of green ammonia from 2029.

sProgressing from stated ambitions to firm contracts is what we need to realize industrial-scale production of green hydrogen and ammonia. With VNG signing on as a potential off-taker, distributing our product to clients in Europe’s most important energy market, the Narvik Green Ammonia project takes a significant step in this direction,” said Knut Nyborg, managing director of Aker Horizons Asset Development. “Aker Horizons appreciates the trust placed in Narvik Green Ammonia and we look forward to continuing the close cooperation with VNG in the year ahead.”

ARGENTINA

Study on large scale green ammonia project for Argentina

Austrian renewables developer RP Global says that it aims to install 3 GW of electrolysis capacity as part of the first stage of the “Gaucho Wind to Hydrogen and Green Ammonia” development in Argentina. The electrolysers will be powered by a wind farm of around 4.2 GW, resulting in the production of over 21,340 GWh of electricity and up to 1.7 million t/a of green ammonia in Patagonia, destined mainly for exports to the European market. RP Global secured support for the project in a competitive bidding process conducted by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) under the International Hydrogen Ramp-up Programme (H2Uppp). This programme aims to promote green hydrogen projects in selected developing and emerging countries in line with the German government’s national hydrogen strategy. The first stage of the partnership will involve conducting comprehensive feasibility studies on large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia production and export in Argentina. The findings of these studies will be publicly accessible to support local and national authorities, developers, investors, and other stakeholders in the green hydrogen sector, the Austrian firm stated.

POLAND

Sanctions imposed on NFT

The Polish government has imposed sanctions against Belarussian fertilizer supplier NFT, for breaches of sanctions against Belarussian fertilizer producer Grodno Azot. According to the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs, NFT has been selling Grodno Azot products in Poland via third countries, in an attempt to bypass the existing sanctions regime. Grodno Azot, one of the largest chemical enterprises in Belarus and a key player in the region in the production of nitrogen fertilizers, was included in the European Union’s sanctions list in December 2021, and the export of products to Poland ceased. In addition to the ban on deliveries, the restrictive measures against NFT include freezing all of the company’s funds and economic resources in Poland, excluding the company from public procurement or tender procedures, and other measures.

CHINA

Sichuan Lutianhua installs N2O abatement catalyst

Clariant says that its EnviCat N2O-Snitrous oxide abatement catalyst is performing successfully at Sichuan Lutianhua’s nitric acid plant and is projected to reduce annual emissions by 275,000 t/a of CO2eq. Sichuan Lutianhua is one of the winners of Clariant’s 2021-2022 global Climate Campaign, which offered a free load of the catalyst to nitric acid producers lacking N2O abatement technology. Located in Sichuan Province, China, the 135,000 t/a nitric acid plant started operating in 2009 with no N2O removal system in place.

Sun Guang, Assistant General Manager at Sichuan Lutianhua, said; “Our company is committed to sustainable practices and reducing our environmental impact. Partnering with Clariant to install the EnviCat N2O-S catalyst is an important step towards achieving our emissions reduction goals. We have already measured a significant decrease in N2O emissions from our nitric acid production and look forward to continued positive results.”

PORTUGAL

Partnership to develop floating green ammonia production vessel

An industrial scale floating green ammonia production facility partially powered by wave energy is being developed by Dutch developer SwitcH2, together with Swedish wave energy specialist CorPower Ocean, based on FPSO (floating production, storage, and offloading) technologies. The project is supported by Norway-based BW Offshore and Dutch Oceans Capital, as well as a grant from the Dutch Government’s GroenvermogenNL scheme. SwitcH2 aims to begin with a new open-sea project in northern Portugal utilising CorPower Ocean’s wave energy technology, plus wind and solar power. CorPower Ocean’s wave energy converters turn wave motion into rotation, which is converted into electricity by generators inside a buoy.

SwitcH2 said its NH3-FPSO unit will use a vessel nearly the size of a VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier), to support a 300 MW electrolysis plant on deck. The produced green ammonia will be temporarily stored in pressurised tanks in the vessel and then exported to shore via shuttle carriers. The floating facility is expected to reach an annual production capacity of almost 300,000 t/a of green ammonia when operational from 2029.

CorPower Ocean commercial director Kevin Rebenius said: “Wave energy is one of the largest untapped energy source in the world. It’s renewable, accessible, and abundant. Crucially, it’s also highly consistent bringing greater stability to the clean energy mix, enabling 24/7 renewable electricity supply allowing industrial processes like this to run at high utilisation. We look forward to working with fellow tech pioneer SwitcH2 with a shared vision for a cleaner, brighter future powered by renewables.”

AUSTRALIA

Incitec Pivot to sell Gibson Island plant

Incitec Pivot Ltd (IPL) has announced its decision to sell its Gibson Island site, abandoning earlier plans with Fortescue Future Industries for a green ammonia project. This decision marks a shift from fertilizer production to enhancing their global explosives business. During the company’s annual financial disclosure, Mauro Neves, CEO of IPL, said that the firm is still on track to segregate its fertilizer segment within the next 6-12 months, potentially divesting portions to maximise value.

Gibson Island stopped producing urea in early 2023, since when the site has served as a distribution hub for markets in Queensland and northern New South Wales. The company plans to transition its primary distribution operations to a modern facility managed by Qube at the Port of Brisbane, heralding significant advancements in logistical capabilities. IPL continues to pivot towards exiting fertilizer production and concentrating on its explosives division. The company announced a net loss for the fiscal year, largely due to non-cash impairments and costs associated with business restructuring and the closure of manufacturing sites.

The news is a blow for green ammonia developer Fortescue, which had been planning to build 550 MW of electrolyser capacity at Gibson Island to run the ammonia plant offgreen hydrogen.

MEXICO

Green ammonia project announcement

Helax, a subsidiary of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), says that it is planning a new $10 billion green hydrogen and ammonia plant in the isthmus of Tehuantepec on Mexico’s southern coast.

The project is currently at a consultative stage with local authorities and residents, and is aiming to begin construction in 2026, assuming acceptance of environmental studies which are ongoing. Plant operation would begin in 2028.

Stamicarbon to license N2O abatement technology

NextChem subsidiary Stamicarbon has been awarded the licensing and process design package (PDP) for a tertiary abatement unit to be installed at Soluciones Químicas’ nitric acid plant in Minatitlán, Veracruz, Mexico. Stamicarbon will apply its proprietary tertiary abatement technology, to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from the tail gas stream, bringing the plant’s environmental status up to current emission regulations.