Russian chemical and fertilizer producer Togliattiazot (Toaz) has announced plans to more than double its urea capacity by 2025, taking output to over 2.5 million t/y.

The increase will be partly achieved through building third and fourth production units at its site in Togliatti in the Samara region. A third line with a capacity of 2,200 t/d is already under construction with commissioning planned for 2021. The company did not disclose further details on the fourth unit.

The two existing urea lines produce about 960,000 t/y. The Russian group also has capacity to produce more than 3 million t/y of ammonia.

Toaz said it became the largest supplier of urea to the Russian agricultural market in 2019, supplying 274,000 t, compared to nearly 251,000 t in 2018, and taking more than an 38% share of the domestic market.

It added that it has invested more than 47.5 billion roubles in a strategic modernization program to improve its production capacity to meet growing domestic demand. Last year, the company increased urea production by almost 19% to reach nearly 785,000 t, a record high for the past 12 years.

“Outstanding production results for 2019, achieved through the implementation of the strategic program for the modernization of capacities, allow Toaz to maintain leadership positions in the market,” said general director Dmitry Mezheedov.

“In the coming year, Mezheedov said, “we will continue the construction of the urea production unit N3, modernization and technical re-equipment of existing units in order to ensure their stable and uninterrupted operation. The board of directors set a goal - to increase ammonia production to 4.15 million t, and I am sure that Togliattiazot will be able to move confidently towards it, retaining leadership in the Russian market and strengthening its position in the world.”

During 2019, Toaz also completed an overhaul and technical re-equipment of its No. 3 ammonia plant, which made it possible to stabilize operations and reduce the consumption of natural gas. In addition, works were carried out on both carbamide production units, as well as ammonia units Nos. 2 and 5.