Yara International and BASF Group have agreed to build a world-scale ammonia plant at BASF’s site in Freeport, Texas. The plant will use hydrogen as raw material, reducing capital expenditures (capex), maintenance and carbon dioxide emissions significantly.
The ammonia plant will be owned 68% by Yara and 32% by BASF and located on BASF’s site in Freeport. The plant will have a capacity of about 750,000t per year. Each party will off-take ammonia from the plant in accordance with its equity share. Total capital investment for the plant is estimated at USD 600M. In addition, Yara will build an ammonia tank at the BASF terminal bringing Yara’s total investment to USD 490M. BASF will in addition upgrade its current terminal and pipeline assets.
The hydrogen technology reduces capex and maintenance significantly. The technology also allows for lower carbon dioxide emissions. A long-term supply agreement for nitrogen and hydrogen has been signed with Praxair, linking the feedstock variable cost to the advantageous natural gas prices available at the U.S. Gulf coast.
KBR, Houston, Texas, has been awarded a fixed price turnkey contract for the engineering, procurement and construction. The plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. Yara will manage construction of the plant while BASF will operate the plant and the export terminal.
