InfraLeuna GmbH, the owner and operator of the Leuna chemical site, has unveiled a new state-of-the-art heating terminal as part of a new central infrastructure facility established at the Leuna chemical site to address the changing demands of the chemical industry’s supply chains.
Russia has again extended its ban on the export of industrial sulphur, with the latest decree prolonging the restriction until 30 June 2026. The announcement was made via the government’s press service on 31 March. This decision is aimed at stabilising the supply of raw materials for the domestic market to support the production of phosphate-based fertilizers. The restriction covers the export of liquid, granulated, and lump sulphur.
India's cabinet approved a proposal to spend $4.49 billion to subsidise phosphate and potassium fertilizers for the Kharif 2026 season, according to an 8 April government statement. The allocation represents an increase of approximately $460 million over the Kharif 2025 season budget, reflecting adjustments for recent trends in international prices of fertilizers and inputs including urea, DAP, MOP, and sulphur.
Metso has signed a major agreement with Southern Peru Copper Corporation, one of the largest copper producers in the world, for the supply of copper solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX/EW) technology to the company’s Tia Maria project in Cocachacra, Peru. The new plant will produce 120,000 tons of high-purity copper cathodes per year.
INEOS Enterprises has agreed to sell INEOS Calabrian, its ultra-pure sulphur dioxide and derivatives business, to Ecovyst. INEOS Calabrian operates manufacturing sites in Port Neches, Texas, USA and Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Completion of the sale is expected by the end of June 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
Australia’s federal government has selected the Murchison Green Hydrogen project in Western Australia as one of four pilot projects under its newly launched Investor Front Door initiative, a scheme designed to streamline regulatory approvals and fast-track major projects deemed to be in the national interest, the government announced 9 April. The Murchison project, which will use wind and solar energy to produce large-scale green ammonia, is intended to serve as a model for commercial-scale green hydrogen development in Australia and to generate green export opportunities to markets in Asia and Europe. Murchison, being developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ (CIP), is expected to have a total production capacity of roughly 1.3 million t/a of green ammonia. The first phase of operations is due to begin in 2029.
CF Industries has delayed a planned multi-week maintenance turnaround at its Donaldsonville, Louisiana complex, the world’s largest ammonia production facility, in response to the supply disruption caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure, the producer announced in a press release. The company said the decision is expected to make approximately 100,000 tonnes of additional granular urea available to US customers during the spring application season. CF Industries added that it is also prioritising new sales to domestic customers over higher-priced export orders for the duration of the spring planting season.
HyOrc Corporation says that it has signed a project development and technology agreement with Bulgaria-based OnEnergy Group to develop a waste-to-methanol facility. Under the agreement, HyOrc will serve as the technology partner for Stage 3 of the project, which focuses on thermochemical conversion of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) into green methanol. The facility is designed to process approximately 50,000 t/a of RDF, operating around 330 days per year with a daily throughput of approximately 150-155 t/d. Expected methanol production capacity is approximately 38-42 t/d (13,200 t/a), subject to final engineering configuration.
SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company says that it has received approval from the Saudi Ministry of Energy to allocate feedstock required for the construction of its seventh plant in Jubail Industrial City. The new facility will produce approximately 1.2 million t/a of ammonia and 2.6 million t/a of urea, increasing the company’s urea production capacity from 4.8 million t/a to 7.4 million t/a; a 54% increase. This is expected to strengthen its position as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of nitrogen-based nutrients, in line with its 2040 growth strategy.
Yara Australia’s Pilbara facility is expected to remain offline for around two months following a power outage at the site. The incident is understood to have damaged some systems at the facility and that repair work is now required. Initial assessments are indicating a prolonged curtailment of both ammonia and technical ammonium nitrate production.