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Nitrogen+Syngas 396 Jul-Aug 2025

21 July 2025

Casale to license ammonia-urea plant

Casale has signed two contracts with Xin Lian Xin Chemicals Group Co.,Ltd for the implementation of ammonia and urea technologies in the company’s new urea complex in Henan province. Capacities for the two plants will be 2,700 t/d of ammonia and 3,500 t/d of urea. Casale says that the complex will be its first grassroots application of its HYPER-U urea technology; an improved self-stripping process incorporating a medium-high pressure (MHP) decomposition stage which significantly reduces steam and cooling water demand, enhances thermal efficiency, and lowers operational costs while drastically cutting the plant’s carbon footprint. A new Strategic Cooperation Agreement signed between the two companies at the same time highlights the ongoing collaboration between Casale and Xin Lian Xin, which has included eight ammonia synthesis units and three urea plants. Both parties also agreed to establish regular technical exchanges and form joint working teams to ensure the seamless implementation of current and future projects. This structured approach will allow for faster alignment, more agile development, and the ability to promptly respond to market challenges and opportunities.

Xin Lian Xin’s nitrogen complex, Henan.

Latest in Agricultural

Government moving forward with coal-based urea plant

The government of Pakistan has published a ‘strategic roadmap’ for the country’s major Coal-to-Fertiliser (C2F) initiative. The project is being executed by the publicly-owned Fauji Fertiliser Company (FFC), and will use local coal reserves at Thar as feedstock for the ammonia plant, which will in turn feed 720,000 t/a of urea capacity. The $1.1 billion project aims to strengthen the country’s fertiliser security as well as add value to local resources. A bankable feasibility study was completed in November 2025, and the project is now in the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) and project agreements phase. Under the proposed timeline, financial closure is expected between late 2026 and 2027, while commercial operations are targeted to commence in January 2031.

Memorandum of understanding on strategic ammonia collaboration

Polymer manufacturer Covestro has signed a memorandum of understanding with ammonia and urea exporter Fertiglobe and chemical producer TA’ZIZ to explore collaboration across the ammonia and nitric acid value chains. The MoU reflects the parties’ shared interest in assessing both near-term supply solutions and longer-term opportunities supporting the transition toward lower-carbon production pathways. The agreement was signed during the visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to the UAE.