EuroChem Group AG, Zug, Switzerland, reports that commissioning is underway on two lines for the production of granular potassium chloride at its Usolskiy operation south of Berezniki, Russia, and said it has received the first test tons of granular product.
EuroChem-Usolskiy Potash produced its first test tons of potassium chloride in March 2018 (GM March 16, 2018) and, according to an end-November group estimate, was expected to have produced about 300,000 mt by the end of 2018 (GM Nov. 30, 2018). Once fully ramped up, Usolskiy’s Phase 1 will have a total annual production capacity of 2.3 million mt/y of MOP.
In a separate development, EuroChem has launched its next-generation fertilizers in Hungary, where it has been active since October 2016, when it set up a distribution center in the country (GM Sept. 29, 2016). The group has begun local production of UTEC 46, a urea fertilizer treated with a patented urease inhibitor formulation capable of reducing gaseous nitrogen losses by up to 75 percent.
It also has strengthened its Hungarian management team: Ákos Balássy has been appointed deputy managing director for EuroChem Hungary Kft, in addition to his current role as sales area manager, Central Eastern Europe. Jozsef Szöke has been appointed operations and sales manager.