M.J. Cousins of Johnson Matthey and K. Nölker of thyssenkrupp Uhde discuss the integration of LCHTM technology and the uhde® ammonia process in providing low carbon ammonia at scale, efficiently, reliably and safely today.
A review of papers presented at CRU’s Nitrogen+Syngas 2025 Expoconference, held in Barcelona from February 10th-12th 2025.
A European ammonia plant, has successfully restarted following a revamp of the process gas cooling section, executed by Casale. Casale replaced the outdated boilers located downstream of the secondary reformer with three new double-tube type boilers supplied by Arvos. The new boilers were installed in the same location as the previous ones, minimising investment costs and plant modifications. The more robust and reliable design of the Casale-Arvos boilers has resulted in enhanced overall performance and reliability of the ammonia plant.
Paralloy has developed Omega technology, an advanced reformer tube design that enhances heat transfer, gas turbulence, and process efficiency. Dr Dominique Flahaut of Paralloy explores the real-world implications of Omega reformer tubes.
Trammo, Inc. and ExxonMobil signed a heads of agreement to advance discussions for Trammo’s long-term offtake of 300-500,000 t/a of low-carbon ammonia from ExxonMobil’s Baytown, Texas facility. The facility is expected to produce virtually carbon-free ‘blue’ hydrogen with approximately 98% of CO2 removed, and will use this low-carbon hydrogen to make low-carbon ammonia. Trammo, a leading international physical commodity trader, will leverage its market and logistical expertise to deliver and sell in Europe and worldwide this unique low-carbon ammonia for use as fertilizer feedstock and for other key industrial applications.
Australia’s NH3 Clean Energy, formerly Hexagon Energy Materials, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pilbara Ports Authority to explore options for the loading and export of 600,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) of clean ammonia from its flagship WAH2 project. The MoU is intended to establish operational arrangements and binding agreements supporting ammonia export from the project, covering ship loading for both export and bunkering customers. Ammonia would be transported from the WAH2 plant to the port of Dampier by a newbuild pipeline located in the existing infrastructure corridor and loaded onto ships at the port’s bulk liquids berth, subject to availability and commercial agreements.
New carbon capture-based plants could see US nitrogen capacity jump over the next few years, but Trump attacks on IRA tax credits may scupper some ongoing projects.
Horisont Energi says that Fertiberia’s participation in the Barents Blue ammonia project will end on February 28th 2025. The two companies had been collaborating on the project since August 2023. Horisont Energi says that it is now looking for additional industrial partners to “further strengthen” the project, which aims to produce 1.0 million t/a of low carbon ammonia using 99% carbon capture at a plant at Markoppnes in northern Norway. Barents Blue has secured sufficient power supply for the first phase of the project, and is supported by a grant via the EU IPCEI hydrogen program, Hy2Use. The project is targeting a final investment decision in 2026 and estimated production start in 2029/2030.
Nitrogen+Syngas ’s annual listing of new ammonia, urea, nitric acid and ammonium nitrate plants.
Yara Clean Ammonia has signed a time-charter contract with Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) for an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier, to be delivered in November 2026. Medium gas carriers are the most popular type of vessel for international shipping of ammonia, and Yara and NYK have been studying the possibilities of running them off ammonia fuel since 2021. Yara Clean Ammonia operates the largest global ammonia network with 15 ships and has, through Yara, access to 18 ammonia terminals and multiple ammonia production and consumption sites across the world. Yara says that use of an AFMGC will contribute to reducing GHG emissions from marine transportation and developing an ammonia supply chain by providing a more environment-friendly means of ammonia transport as demand grows for ammonia use in the power sector, for marine fuel, and the like.