Stamicarbon will provide the process design package for the front-end engineering and design. The plant will use the Milan-based company’s MP Flash Design in one of the steps of the melt process, offering improved energy efficiency through a significant reduction in steam consumption.

The minimal equipment items will also result in a significantly smaller footprint and a lower overall capital cost, along with reduced maintenance and operating costs, Stamicarbon said.

“Thanks to this project, our group has increased its footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa and positioned itself as the world leader in cutting-edge technology and solutions to contribute to reduce the carbon footprint of the fertilizer industry,” said Maire Tecnimont CEO Alessandro Bernini.

Early last month, subsidiary Tecnimont and sister company NextChem won a lumpsum turnkey engineering, procurement and construction contract for a low-carbon ammonia facility to be built in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. GCC countries include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

The contract is worth roughly $300 million, and the plant will use Synloop technology to produce about 1 million t/y. The project is scheduled to complete by the second half of 2025.

Bernini commented: “This strategic project is extremely important since it will provide a significant contribution to the energy transition of the GCC region by reducing the carbon footprint of the fertilizer value chain. It will also contribute to the steady expansion of our green energy business.”

Maire Tecnimont launched its green energy business unit NextChem in November 2018. NextChem was established to manage initiatives in areas that include the energy transition, carbon footprint reduction, the circular economy, and bio-based feedstocks and products.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist