Latin America has become a desirable destination for green ammonia projects. This is linked to the region’s abundance of relatively inexpensive renewable energy, and large-scale fertilizer demand from a growing, high-value and import-dependent agricultural market. Ahead of Fertilizer Latino Americano 2025, Fertilizer International discusses regional green ammonia project prospects with leading players ATOME, Casale, Atlas Agro and Stamicarbon.
Venkat Pattabathula, a member of the AIChE Ammonia Safety Committee, reports on the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ (AIChE) Safety in Ammonia Plants and Related Facilities Symposium held in San Diego on 8-12 September 2024.
We highlight recent production advances and innovations in nitrogen fertilizer production from Casale and Stamicarbon, two global leaders in process technology.
Casale’s fluid bed granulation tail gas treatment for nitrogen-based fertilizer employs double temperature scrubbing technology, which handles the granulator exhaust air separately from the cooler exhaust air. The technology can combine dust removal with ammonia abatement in the same installation to meet strict tail gas limitations such as 10 mg/Nm3 for dust and 10 mg/Nm3 for ammonia. Ken Monstrey of Casale explains the key features of the Casale scrubbing technology.
OCI Global says that it has reached an agreement for the sale of 100% of its equity interests in its Clean Ammonia project currently under construction in Beaumont, Texas for $2.35 billion on a cash and debt free basis. The buyer is Australian LNG and energy company Woodside Energy Group Ltd. Woodside will pay 80% of the purchase price to OCI at closing of the transaction, with the balance payable at project completion, according to agreed terms and conditions. OCI will continue to manage the construction, commissioning and startup of the facility and will continue to direct the contractors until the project is fully staffed and operational, at which point it will hand it over to Woodside. The transaction is expected to close in H2 2024, subject to shareholder approval.
Casale, Saipem, Staicarbon & Toyo Engineering Corporation showcase a selection of innovative technologies that have recently been brought to the market.
Large-scale ammonia cracking technology and catalysts will enable the full potential of ammonia to be realised as industries transition towards low carbon energy. In this feature we report on the current status of ammonia cracking processes and catalysts.
A summary of papers presented at CRU’s Nitrogen+Syngas conference, this year held at the Gothia Towers in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Mark Brouwer and Jo Eijkenboom of ureaknowhow.com examine the major shifts in global urea production. They also discuss the future of the urea industry and, in particular, how the sector is being affected by the increasing focus on low-carbon ammonia production.
Low carbon intensity hydrogen and ammonia production schemes from KBR, Air Liquide, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Casale and Johnson Matthey.