Magazine: Nitrogen+Syngas

Abu Qir Fertilizers & Chemicals, Alexandria Fertilizers, Orascom Construction SAE, and Green Hydrogen Development Holding, a subsidiary of China’s United Energy Group (UEG), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the development of a Mediterranean green hydrogen hub in Alexandria. The proposed project would centre on a large-scale green hydrogen facility powered by wind and solar, with output integrated into existing ammonia infrastructure in the region. Under the agreement, UEG and Orascom will lead feasibility studies covering 500 MW of renewable energy generation and green hydrogen production, while Abu Qir and Alexfert will assess integration into ammonia operations and support access to local infrastructure.

Zimbabwe’s sole domestic AN producer, Sable Chemical Industries Limited, is set to resume production in May following a capital injection from the Mutapa Investment Fund, according to local news platform The Herald on 24 March. The Kwekwe-based facility has been closed for approximately three years, with the government having launched a five-year roadmap aimed at reducing fertilizer imports.

Hydrogen Poland and the Hungarian Hydrogen Technology Association (HHTA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on hydrogen regulations and green ammonia production across Central Europe, according to media reports.

Construction has begun in northeastern China on a project that will produce 100,000 t/a of green methanol in its first phase from a combination of biomass and wind-powered green hydrogen. The project, part of the Shenyang Wind-Solar-Hydrogen Fusion Biomass Green Methanol Demonstration initiative, will be located in Kang-ping, Shenyang City. In its first phase, the facility will produce 100,000 t/a of green methanol, with construction expected to be completed within 24 months. The plant will gasify waste straw as its primary raw material, which will be processed into synthesis gas. This gas will then be combined with green hydrogen generated from 6.5 MW wind-powered electrolysers to produce low carbon methanol. The plant will also include a biomass pre-treatment facility capable of producing 337,000 t/a of biomass briquettes, providing a stable supply of feedstock.

India’s urea industry was running at approximately half capacity after force majeure declarations disrupted LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating Middle East tensions, according to local press reports. Petronet LNG Ltd, which operates India’s largest liquefied natural gas receiving terminal, declared force majeure after upstream suppliers cited their inability to deliver contracted volumes amid disruptions to cargoes transiting the Strait. The move triggered supply curtailments by state-owned gas distributors GAIL (India) Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), which supply gas under RasGas contracts to fertiliser units across the country.

Kazakhstan’s KazMunayGas (KMG) and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) have commenced the development of a urea project planned for construction in the country’s Aktobe region, Interfax reported 31 March.

The Government of Assam has approved a fiscal incentive package for the development of an industrial scale biomethanol facility at an estimated cost of $1.2 billion. Project developer Novel Biofuels is working in partnership with infrastructure company ACTUAL on the project, which will produce 1.4 million litres/day (1,100 t/d) of high-purity biomethanol from sustainably harvested bamboo sourced from Assam’s smallholder farming communities. It is expected to be commissioned by 2030, with site development and supply chain buildout commencing in 2026.

Shell plc SHEL has temporarily halted production at its Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility in Qatar following a major attack on Ras Laffan Industrial City. The Pearl GTL facility, one of the largest of its kind globally, was forced to shut down after sustaining damage during aerial attacks leading to a fire on one of its processing trains. While the fire was quickly contained and no injuries were reported, production was suspended to assess the extent of the damage. The site has the capacity to process up to 1.6 bcf/d of gas into 140,000 bbl/d of liquid fuels.

Jindal Steel says that it has achieved a global first by establishing India’s first coal gasification-based direct reduced iron (DRI) plant, using syngas for iron making. In response to shortages of natural gas, LPG and propane, Jindal Steel has also looked to deploy syngas in galvanising and colour coating line furnaces, as well as injecting syngas into its blast furnace, reducing dependence on imported coking coal and lowering carbon emissions per tonne of steel.

Egypt’s $873 million green ammonia project in New Damietta has entered the front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase, with pre-FEED studies for the marine jetty and hydrogen plant already completed, Zawya reported 7 April, citing a statement by the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM). The project is being developed by Damietta Green Ammonia (DGA), a joint venture between Norway’s Scatec, ECHEM and Misr Fertilizers Production Company (MOPCO). FEED work on ammonia export facilities is ongoing, while major permits and financing arrangements are still being finalised.