Nitrogen Industry News Roundup

Nitrogen Industry News

UNITED STATES

New blue ammonia plants

Proman has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mitsubishi Corp to collaborate on the development of a blue ammonia plant at Lake Charles, Louisiana. This new facility will aim to produce around 1.2 million t/a of low carbon ammonia, making it one of the largest of its kind in the world. The plant will incorporate carbon capture and sequestration technology. Proman says that this development aligns with the company’s commitment to sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed ammonia plant will be located at Proman’s existing site in Lake Charles, adjacent to its gas-to-methanol plant, which is also currently being developed.

The signing ceremony took place at the Third International Conference on Fuel Ammonia (CFA), which was organized by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. Mitsubishi is interested in offtake of the ammonia from the plant for export to Japan as a fuel, in order to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants.

CF Industries is also looking at a joint venture blue ammonia plant in partnership with the Korean steelmaker Posco Holdings at CF’s Blue Point Complex in nearby Ascension Parish, Louisiana. The plant will use an autothermal reformer to make the hydrogen needed for the ammonia from natural gas, and the carbon dioxide emissions will be captured and stored; Posco will use the ammonia for fuel in its coal-fired power facilities in South Korea. It also plans to convert ammonia into hydrogen for use in power plants and directly in the steelmaking process.

Inpex, Japan’s top oil and gas producer, has also recently begun a feasibility study into developing low-carbon ammonia production on the Houston Ship Channel in the United States. As with the two projects above, it is part of Japan’s plans to reduce emissions by mixing ammonia with coal to fire power plants and for use in other industries. Inpex said that it and three other project partners would work on the pre-front-end engineering design (pre-FEED) for the U.S. project, which would aim to produce over 1.1 million t/a of low-carbon ammonia per year by the end of 2027 in its first phase.

CF Industries to expand nitric acid production

CF Industries also says that it plans to modify its number 3 the nitric acid plant and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) Unit to increase production of both merchant-grade nitric acid and DEF. The nitric acid plant improvements include adding an air chiller to cool the process air supplied to the unit, which, together with other upgrades, will allow the production of 65% nitric acid, rather than the 60% strength produced today. The DEF production enhancements include the addition of a demineralised water storage tank, additional process analysers, and pumping system upgrades to allow increased production. A nitric acid storage tank, product pumps, and a DEF rail loading facility will be included, as these are required to store and ship the additional product. The total investment in this expansion is around $75 million. The project is set to start in early 2024 and be completed by end of 2025.

KBR partners with electrolysis technology company

KBR, Inc. has signed a memorandum of understanding with renewable energy company SolydEra. The strategic partnership aims to offer an integrated solution for producing cost-effective clean ammonia using renewable energy sources. Under the terms of the MoU, KBR will incorporate SolydEra’s solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) technology into its proprietary K-GreeN process with a key focus on achieving competitive levelised costs for carbon-neutral ammonia production. KBR says that it hopes to drive the cost efficiencies necessary to position clean ammonia as a competitive alternative energy source.

BELGIUM

Ammonia engines for new gas carrier vessels

EXMAR LPG BV, a joint venture between EXMAR and Seapeak, will use ammonia as fuel for its two new mid-size gas carriers (MGCs), currently on order at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea. The ships will be the first ever ocean-going vessels to be propelled by dual-fuel ammonia engines, allowing for close to zero emissions trading when using ammonia. The engines will be delivered by WINGD and the fuel supply system by Wärtsilä Gas Solutions. The 46,000 m3 MGCs are scheduled for delivery in early 2026.

“As leading global transporters of ammonia, we are proud to be developing vessels with an operational carbon footprint reduction of 90%, which significantly exceeds the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s emissions reduction targets. This is possible thanks to the decades of experience of EXMAR’s operational and technical teams, and the joint effort and contribution of all our project partners,” said Carl-Antoine Saverys, Executive Director at EXMAR.

Throughout the design and development phase of the vessels, close attention has been given to operational safety due to ammonia’s potential toxicity, using a risk-based design appraisal conducted by classification society Lloyds Register, combined with input from experienced crews.

DENMARK

Sumitomo to partner Skovgaard Energy for green ammonia production

Sumitomo has signed a letter of intent with Danish renewable energy developer Skovgaard Energy for future collaboration in green ammonia production. Skovgaard is constructing a flexible green ammonia plant powered directly by 100% wind and photovoltaic power to demonstrate that ammonia synthesis can work as a potential energy storage technology without intermediate hydrogen storage. It is funded by the Danish Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (EUDP), which has Topsoe and Vestas as project partners. The plant will be in Ramme, near Lemvig, Jutland, with an annual production of 5,000 t/a of green ammonia. Power will be supplied from 50 MW of solar panels and 12 MW of wind turbines. The project is based on a flexible renewable ammonia production technology eliminating energy storage capacities such as batteries or water reservoirs. First production is slated for Q2 2024.

“We look forward to collaborating with Skovgaard Energy, which we consider highly competent in their field. Located in Europe’s hotspot for the green transition with great wind and solar resources, stateof-the-art infrastructure and backup by local stakeholders, it is obvious for us to begin our journey in this field here,” said Head of Energy Innovation Initiative, Ko Akiyama, from Sumitomo Corporation Europe Limited.

“We are thrilled to be at the forefront of this transformative project that combines renewable energy and green ammonia production. By replacing natural gas with green electricity, we can help farmers and vessel operators reduce their carbon footprint and secure more stable food and fuel prices. The flexible ammonia production technology setup is a significant step forward for democratising access to cheap, green ammonia. Together with Sumitomo we will have both resources and competencies for future upscaled projects,” said Chief Sales Officer Bjarke Mollerup Bitsch from Skovgaard Energy.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Fertiglobe signs MoU with AD Ports Group

Fertiglobe, the strategic partnership between ADNOC and OCI Global has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AD Ports Group to explore logistics and supply chain opportunities for storing and shipping urea and ammonia at ports in Egypt and the UAE. The two companies say that they will explore opportunities to leverage AD Ports Group’s state-of-the-art cargo handling and storage infrastructure, as Fertiglobe strengthens its urea and ammonia storage and shipping capabilities, reduces its greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint, enhances operational efficiency and further automates its logistical activities. Fertiglobe is the world’s largest seaborne exporter of urea and ammonia combined, the largest nitrogen fertilizer producer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and an early mover in sustainable ammonia.

Ahmed El-Hoshy, CEO of Fertiglobe, commented: “We are pleased to partner with AD Ports Group, a UAE national champion and a global leader in maritime trade and logistics. Through this MoU we will identify compelling opportunities across our logistics and supply chain management requirements, enabling us to bolster our ability to store and ship urea and ammonia from Egypt and further optimize our logistics’ cost structure. Today, our strategically located production facilities benefit from direct access to international ports and distribution hubs, allowing us to easily access major end-markets and regions with high demand. This MoU will enable us to expand our partnership beyond Egypt and the UAE, as well as to the shipping and storage of green ammonia, in line with our commitment to deliver more sustainable products to the world.”

The companies say that they will explore potential collaboration opportunities in other geographies as well as the development of supply chain solutions for green ammonia, a hydrogen carrier, with Fertiglobe’s existing operations strategically located near key shipping routes.

Fertiglobe also announced recently that it will instal a 10 t/d carbon capture unit manufactured by UK-based Carbon Clean at its ammonia plant at Ruwais. The installation will be carried out by Fertiglobe partner ADNOC.

ADNOC to build direct air capture unit

ADNOC has signed a deal with Occidental for a feasibility study on a large scale direct air capture (DAC) plant, the first outside the US. The study will assess the proposed 1.0 million t/a facility, which would be connected to ADNOC’s pipeline dioxide infrastructure for injection and permanent storage into saline reservoirs not used for oil and gas production. The agreement is the first project to reach a technical feasibility stage since ADNOC and Occidental signed a strategic collaboration agreement in August to explore carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects in the UAE and the US.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi, executive director for low carbon solutions and international growth at ADNOC, said; “This joint investment in the proposed first megaton direct air capture facility in the region exemplifies our commitment to leverage partnerships and promising technology to accelerate our decarbonisation journey on the way to net zero by 2045.” ADNOC recently revised its plans to reach net-zero emissions by 2045, from an original target of 2050. The company also aims to achieve zero methane emissions by the end of the decade.

ADNOC’s urea plant at Ruwais

SOUTH AFRICA

Green ammonia plant proposal

Solar power producer Phelan Green Energy says that it intends to invest $2.5 billion in constructing a green hydrogen and ammonia plant in South Africa’s Western Cape province. Phelan subsidiary Solar Capital will oversee the facility, known as the Saldanha Green Hydrogen Project. The complex could begin initial production in early 2026, with a final investment decision in 3Q 2024.

Paschal Phelan, chairman of Phelan Green, stated, “The launch of our Saldanha Green Hydrogen Project is… a testament to our team’s unwavering dedication to shaping South Africa’s energy future and our commitment to introducing sustainable innovations to the global market.”

CHINA

Eurotecnica to license world’s largest melamine plant

Melamine technology design and licensing company Eurotecnica, part of the Proman family of companies, a says that it has been awarded a contract for the implementation of the world’s largest melamine plant, with a nameplate capacity of 160,000 t/a. Xinjiang Xinlianxin Energy Chemical Co., Ltd. (XLX) has selected Eurotecnica’s 5th generation (G5) Euromel® melamine technology for the design and implementation of this project. Once commissioned, this plant will increase XLX’s total capacity to 1,000 t/d of melamine, a record for the industry. Eurotecnica says that it has now licensed 28 melamine plants worldwide, with a combined capacity of 1.3 million t/a.

“We are extremely proud of this contract which sets a new standard for the melamine industry reinforcing Euromel’s superior features. We are delighted to be working with XLX for the third time and for their trust and confidence in us and our technology. We launched the 5th generation of Euromel this year and it continues to deliver best-in-class energy efficiency,” says Alberto De Amicis, Eurotecnica Managing Director.

Stamicarbon licenses low energy urea plant

Shandong Lianmeng Chemical Company has awarded licensing and equipment supply contracts for a grassroots urea melt and prilling plant in China to Stamicarbon, the nitrogen technology licensor of Maire Group. The plant, to be sited in Shouguang, Shandong province, will use Stamicarbon’s Ultra-Low Energy design with a highly efficient pool reactor concept and have a capacity of 2,334 t/d. Stamicarbon will provide the license, proprietary equipment, including high-pressure equipment made of super duplex stainless steel and associated services. This grassroots project will be the eighth urea plant worldwide to use Stamicarbon’s Ultra-Low Energy design, which allows heat supplied as high-pressure steam to be used three times instead of two, compared to the conventional CO2 stripping processes. This results in a 35% reduction in steam consumption and a 16% decrease in cooling water use.

“We’re excited to launch a project using our Ultra-Low Energy design, which has shown itself to be the top choice for energy efficiency and sustainability in urea production. With this project, we are further expanding our footprint in China, aiming to address the region’s growing demand for urea,” said Pejman Djavdan, Stamicarbon CEO.

INDIA

Costs rising for coal-based ammonia plant

Rising costs for the Talcher Fertilizers plant in Odisha have necessitated a fresh cash injection by the project partners. State owned companies Coal India Ltd, Gas Association of India Ltd (GAIL), and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF), will invest a total of $372 million in the fertiliser joint venture. Each of the three companies has a 31.85% stake in Talcher Fertilizers. The long-delayed project is aimed at building a new coal-fired urea plant with a capacity of 1.27 million t/a to help defray Indian imports of urea.

Deepak selects KBR for Smart Factory project

KBR has been awarded a multi-year service contract by Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corp. Ltd for the development of their ‘Smart Factory’ project. This contract will cover the operations of four nitric acid plants at Dahej and Taloja. KBR will design and deploy real-time monitoring and diagnostics, first-principles modelling, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and advanced process control to optimise plant operations. These digital solutions will deliver decision support and automation, improving energy efficiency and deriving greater value from existing assets.

ROMANIA

Azomures resumes ammonia production

Fertiliser producer Azomures restarted production at its Ammonia III facility in October at 50% capacity. The restart is a result of signing a new natural gas supply contract. Gas prices have forced shutdowns of the plant several times in recent years; in December 2021, and then June 2022 after production had resumed in April. In September 2022 Azomures, which is owned by Swiss agribusiness group Ameropa, laid off 200 staff leaving 960 working at its Targu Mures site, where it has 1.6 million t/a of capacity for ammonium nitrate, CAN and NPK production. Josh Zacharis, CEO of Azomures, said that the company’s intention is to maintain ammonia production for “as long as conditions allow”.

AUSTRALIA

Engineering work begins on green hydrogen plant

Técnicas Reunidas has agreed with Allied Green Ammonia to begin the basic engineering and design phases of a hydrogen and green ammonia production facility in the country’s Northern Territory, a plant that, if financial closure is completed, could be commissioned in 2028. Total investment is estimated at about A$8.5 billion (US$5.4 billion). The plant would produce 165,000 t/a of green hydrogen, which would in turn be used to generate 912,500 t/a of green ammonia. If the negotiations with industrial companies and investment funds that are currently underway confirm the financial closure of the project, the detailed engineering phases and the material execution of the plant would be undertaken through an engineering, procurement and construction management contract.

JORDAN

Feasibility study for green hydrogen project

Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Jordan Green Ammonia Company (JGA). The aim is to initiate a year-long preliminary feasibility study, which will lay the groundwork for a green hydrogen project. Should the study yield promising results, the ministry says it will move forward with a formal framework agreement, ultimately culminating in a final investment agreement.

DENMARK

Topsoe to collaborate on nuclear hydrogen production

Topsoe has signed a memorandum of intent with ULC-Energy and Rolls-Royce SMR to jointly investigate the production of hydrogen using Topsoe’s solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) technology in conjunction with the electricity and heat produced from a Rolls-Royce small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power plant. The partners will also prepare a valuation of the operational flexibility of the Rolls-Royce SMR/Topsoe SOEC combination in a future energy market based primarily on renewable energy. Initially, the companies are looking at a conceptual study to demonstrate synergies between SMR and SOEC. Hydrogen produced based on nuclear power has significantly lower carbon intensity compared to conventional hydrogen and can therefore contribute to lowering global greenhouse gas emissions in heavy-industry and long-distance transportation.

Sundus Cordelia Ramli, CCO Powerto-X, at Topsoe said: “We’re excited to investigate the potential of hydrogen from nuclear SMR’s and our SOEC electrolysis technology together with ULC-Energy and Rolls-Royce SMR. With our SOEC technology, we can produce more hydrogen relative to renewable power when compared to competing electrolysis technologies. To enable net zero by 2050, we need to look into all possible technologies, and we’re confident that our electrolysis technology will be one of the key components in the race for net-zero.”

Nuclear energy combined with SOEC technology has the potential to produce hydrogen more cheaply than alternative electrolysis processes because: (a) The electrolysis takes place at a high temperature, which means that less electricity is needed to produce hydrogen; (b) the nuclear power plants can produce energy on average up to 95% of the time, significantly higher than alternative variable energy sources; and (c) nuclear energy can supply heat as well as electricity. By using heat directly, energy losses in the steam turbine can be avoided, thus increasing the effective energy capacity of the nuclear power plant above its electric power rating.

The SMR nuclear power plant can also, when required, switch to deliver power to the grid, providing back-up to variable power sources when these sources are not available. This is expected to be a competitive solution compared to alternatives, like long duration energy storage solutions or hydrogen combustion for electricity generation.

Wael Suleiman, CEO of JGA, said that Jordan’s strategic geographical location and the abundance of solar energy resources at its disposal were a compelling commercial case. “Today’s signing ceremony is a symbol of Jordan’s resolute determination to harness its abundant renewable energy resources. Our MoU serves as the blueprint for the collaborative efforts between private sector entities and the government to expand the potential of green hydrogen,” he said.

MOROCCO

OCP secures loan for low carbon fertilizer production

State-owned phosphates and fertiliser producer OCP has signed an agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s investment arm, for a $106 million loan to build two solar power plants to increase production of low-carbon fertilizers. The two photovoltaic plants will be located in the mining areas of Khouribga and Benguerir with a combined capacity of 400 MW and a storage capacity of up to 100 MWh, OCP said in a statement. The loan is the second offered by the IFC to OCP within a year after a similar $100 million loan last April to build four plants with a combined capacity of 200 MW in the same mining areas. Last year, OCP announced an investment plan worth $13 billion to fully rely on renewable energies for its fertiliser production by 2027, including investing $7 billion in an ammonia plant using green hydrogen.

NEPAL

Feasibility study on green CAN plant

The Investment Board of Nepal has signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysian company reNIKOLA Sdn Bhd to prepare a detailed feasibility study on the establishment of a green calcium ammonium nitrate fertiliser plant in Nepal. The proposed project at Abukhaireni, Tanahun is estimated to cost $260 million, and would produce 95,600 t/a of green ammonia and 286,975 t/a of green calcium ammonium nitrate.

INDONESIA

Pusri to build new urea plant

Pupuk Sriwidjaja Palembang (Pusri), a subsidiary of state-owned Pupuk Indonesia, has signed off on funding and agreed the engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build its new Pusri-IIIB ammonia and urea plant at the company’s existing site at Palembang, south Sumatra. The plant capacity will be 1,350 t/d (445,000 t/a) of ammonia, and 2,750 t/d (907,500 t/a) of urea, using technology licensed from KBR and Toyo respectively. Wuhuan Engineering and Adhi Karya will perform the construction works, with funding carried out through a syndicate of eight state-owned and private-sector companies. President of Pupuk Indonesia, Rahmad Pribadi, said that Pusri-IIIB will use the latest production technology to increase the reliability of fertilizer production. The plant will replace the existing Pusri 3 and 4 plants, which are less efficient in terms of gas consumption.

ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe suspends import tax on fertilizer

The government of Zimbabwe has suspended duty on fertilizer imports allowing approved and regulated traders to bring in fertilizer duty-free to ensure adequate supplies locally. Up to 250,000 tonnes of urea and ammonium nitrate will be licensed for import. The Minister for Agriculture has approved a list of fertilizer importers for the purposes of these regulations and licensed the importers so they could then deal with tax authority Zimra. Local producers Sable Chemicals and Chemplex will also be given access to contracts to supply state assisted farming programmes to boost local production and cut imports. Sable Chemicals produces ammonium nitrate using ammonia imported from South Africa and Chemplex produces phosphates using imported sulphuric acid. Zimbabwe has seen a 30% increase in domestic fertilizer prices over the past two years due to high international prices.

AUSTRALIA

Funding boost for green hydrogen hub

The government of New South Wales has signed a $45 million funding agreement to build the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub on Kooragang Island to assist emissions intensive industries to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. The project, led by Origin Future Fuels (Origin), will be a regional cornerstone of the hydrogen industry, producing green hydrogen through electrolysis to store energy and as a feedstock in industrial processes. The Hub will initially deliver approximately 55 MW of electrolyser capacity by 2026, with an aim to scale up to over 1 GW of capacity over the next decade.

The hydrogen produced by the Hub will be used by industry, with the majority going to Orica’s nearby ammonia plant to help decarbonise its operations. Hydrogen will also be made available to transport customers through onsite and satellite refuelling stations.

BRAZIL

Croatia to import green ammonia from Brazil

Project developer Green Energy Park (GEP) says that it intends to build a renewable ammonia facility in Brazil for export to its planned 10 million t/a import terminal on the Croatian island of Krk. GEP plans a plant that could produce 1 million t/a of ammonia from around 5GW renewable power generation capacity in the northeast Brazilian state of Piaui, in the special economic zone of Luis Correia, where the state’s first major port is scheduled to open in December with a view to facilitating exports to European markets. Ammonia from the site would be shipped to the Krk ammonia import terminal, which GEP first announced last month.

MEXICO

Financial closure for large-scale ammonia plant

Proman has achieved financial closure for its planned 2200 t/d ammonia plant in Topolobampo, Sinaloa state. The plant is being financed via German state owned investment and development bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KFW). Proman has engaged thyssenkrupp Uhde to develop the project. Uhde will provide engineering and procurement services in addition to the uhde® ammonia technology license and proprietary equipment.

The project has taken several years to realise due to environmental concerns over the development, and spent two years on hiatus after a Sinaloa court ruling overturned a previous environmental approval in order to allow for consultation with local indigenous communities, although a local referendum showed that there was 76% approval by local residents for the development. However, it has now cleared these hurdles and is moving ahead. Sinaloa is an agricultural state on the western coast of Mexico known as ‘Mexico’s breadbasket’, with considerable demand for fertilizer locally, but domestic ammonia and urea production in Mexico, mostly at Cosoleacaque on the southeast coast, has been idled because of gas pricing and availability. However, the development of new gas fields in the northwest of Mexico has made the Sinaloa plant a realistic possibility.

David Cassidy, Chief Executive of Pro-man, which owns and operates significant ammonia and methanol capacity, mainly on Trinidad, said: “Proman is excited to be expanding into Mexico. We are already a significant producer of ammonia, and this new plant will increase our annual production capacity to 2.8 million t/a at a time when fertilizers have a critical role to play in the agricultural sector in Mexico and for global food security. We have built strong relationships with local stakeholders and communities and look forward to a long-term future in Mexico.”

IVORY COAST

Yara to divest local operations

Yara International has divested its fertilizer import and distribution subsidiary in Ivory Coast. Yara says that the move followed a thorough analysis of its operations, considering market dynamics, the regulatory environment, and strategic growth opportunities. This evaluation has led to the decision to divest its position in Ivory Coast, allowing the reallocation of resources and investments towards other countries in Africa which offer a higher potential for the successful implementation of Yara’s 2030 Africa Food Systems Transformation strategy.

Luis Alfredo Pérez, SVP Yara Africa said: “The decision to divest is driven by the acknowledgment that Yara’s ambition to become a true leader in the Food Systems Transformation in Africa can only be reached in a phased approach. A necessary first step is to… prioritise those specific crops and regional segments offering the highest opportunity to establish closed-loop partnerships, which will secure a sustainable improvement in the sub-Saharan smallholder farmer’s productivity and profitability.”

NORWAY

Horisont signs letter of intent for Barents Blue ammonia offtake

Horisont Energi has signed a letter of intent with German energy company VNG Handel & Vertrieb GmbH (VNG) for the offtake of blue ammonia from the Barents Blue project in Hammerfest in Northern Norway – Europe´s largest low carbon ammonia plant project. VNG H&V intends to make the ammonia available to its customers, particularly in the industrial sector, either directly or in the form of hydrogen. The agreement sets out a long-term partnership for clean ammonia supply targeting a quantity of 100,000300,000 t/a starting from 2028, corresponding to 10%-30% of the capacity at the planned Barents Blue plant.

“The agreement with VNG marks another leap forward in the development of Barents Blue as Europe’s largest clean ammonia plant to meet the surging demand for clean ammonia and hydrogen. We are also adding another strong new German partner as we continue to build a clean ammonia value chain and are delighted to have joined forces with a highly competent organization and dedicated team”, said Bjørgulf Haukelidsæter Eidesen, CEO Horisont Energi.

“With this agreement, we are strengthening the German-Norwegian partnership in the energy sector. At the same time, we are taking another important step towards driving forward the decarbonisation of Germany. The demand for blue ammonia will multiply in the coming decades, both as a hydrogen carrier and to decarbonise fertilisers, shipping, and other industries,” added Ulf Heitmüller, CEO of VNG AG.

Combined with the Polaris CCS project, Barents Blue will offer blue ammonia with a 99% CO2 capture rate and a correspondingly low carbon footprint compared to conventional production. Horisont Energi targets a final investment decision for the 1.0 million t/a plant in 2024/2025, with estimated production starting in 2028. Horisont has also recently signed a joint development agreement with Spanish fertilizer producer Fertiberia for the Barents Blue project, and announced in September that PIGNiG Upstream Norway intends to join Horisont Energi as an operating partner in the Polaris CCS storage license. The plan is for Polaris to offer the Barents Blue CO2 storage for its captured carbon.

Computer rendering of the new ammonia container ship.

PHOTO: YARA

Ammonia-fuelled container ship

Yara Clean Ammonia and NorthSea Container Line are establishing a joint venture, NCL Oslofjord, to build a new container ship, which will be the world’s first to use pure ammonia as fuel. The Yara Eyde will serve on routes between Oslo and Brevik in Norway and Hamburg and Bremerhaven in Germany from 2026. The project has been awarded $3.6 million from Enova, a Norwegian government enterprise promoting clean energy technologies.

Yara Clean Ammonia will supply the ship with low carbon ammonia. Together with Azane Fuel Solutions, a storage and bunkering network is being developed to make pure ammonia available in Norwegian and eventually Scandinavian ports. The bunkering network can also contribute to achieving Norway’s goal of cutting emissions from the offshore sector. Enova and Innovation Norway are also supporting one of the barges planned to supply the Yara Eyde with low-emission fuel in Brevik.

“Ammonia as a fuel does not pollute. When we produce ammonia from renewable energy or with natural gas where up to 95% of the CO2 emissions are captured and stored permanently, pure ammonia will quickly be a good solution for cutting carbon emissions in the maritime sector,” said Magnus Krogh Ankarstrand, head of Yara Clean Ammonia. “Yara Eyde will demonstrate the maturity of ammonia as a maritime fuel.”

“We see there is increasing demand from product owners to reduce emissions,” said Bente Hetland, CEO of North Sea Container Line. “The ship offers competitive and emission-free logistics to all cargo owners in the Oslofjord and the Greenland region.”

Svein Tore Holsether, CEO of Yara International, said, “As a direct continuation of the green logistics with Yara Birkeland, the ammonia-powered ship Yara Eyde will extend the zero-emission value chain from Brevik to ports on the continent. With an emission-free sea journey from Brevik to Europe, Yara scope 3 removes emissions by 11,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.”

BANGLADESH

New urea plant inaugurated

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated Bangaldesh’s new Ghorashal-Polash Urea Fertilizer Project. Construction of the ammonia-urea plant started in 2020, conducted by the China National Chemical Engineering & Construction Corporation Seven Ltd., in collaboration with Japanese partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), and was due to have been completed in June 2022, but was delayed by the covid pandemic. The plant, located in Narsingdi district, 51 km northeast of the capital city of Dhaka, has a capacity of 500,000 t/a of ammonia and 800,000 t/a of granular urea, and cost an estimated $1.2 billion. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Hasina said it is Bangladesh’s first fertilizer plant capable of capturing carbon dioxide, feeding it back into urea production and boosting the plant’s output by 10%.

AFRICA

Proton to develop green ammonia terminal in Western Africa

Dutch ammonia contractor Proton Ventures and Belgian tank specialist Geldof have been awarded a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract for what is said to be the first green ammonia terminal in Western Africa. Proton Ventures said that the project marks a significant step towards exporting green ammonia from Western Africa to the world, noting that the terminal will be located near major shipping trade lanes, making it an ideal spot for the production of renewable energy. Furthermore, it is said to hold potential for competitive green electricity sourcing.

The facility will feature a full containment ammonia storage tank connected to an existing jetty, simplifying the loading and unloading processes and streamlining operations, according to Proton. It will also include dedicated rail and truck-loading facilities, and a refrigeration system designed to swiftly manage the boil-off gas and (un-)load ammonia gas carriers, providing independent operations. High-flow rate pumps and utilities will support ammonia handling processes, while an emergency-only flare system for the safe disposal of gases will guarantee the highest safety measures and lowest emissions.