Invista reports that it is considering a new, combined hydrogen and anhydrous ammonia manufacturing unit—valued at more than $500 million—within the existing footprint of the company’s nylon intermediates production facility in Victoria, Texas. Anticipated ammonia capacity is put at 400,000 mt/y.

Agrium Inc. reports that it has entered into a Consent Agreement with the Canadian Competition Bureau and thereby cleared the Canadian competition review process in order to proceed with the acquisition of Viterra Inc.’s Canadian retail assets. Agrium will acquire approximately 210 retail stores across Western Canada, in addition to 13 Viterra retail locations in Australia which were acquired in June. For more details, see the Green Markets Web-Edition Friday afternoon Sept. 6.

Morocco’s OCP Group, and Bunge Ltd., have announced they have reached an agreement for OCP to acquire Bunge’s 50 percent ownership interest in their Moroccan fertilizer joint venture. The jv, Bunge Maroc Phosphore SA (BMP), was formed in 2008 (GM May 28, 2007, p. 10) to produce fertilizers in Morocco and serve as an additional source of phosphate-based raw materials and intermediate products for Bunge’s fertilizer businesses in South America.

Israel Chemicals Ltd. has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam’s privately owned Duc Giang to build and expand a phosphate mine in Vietnam. ICL said the mine would serve Vietnam as well as the wider South East Asian markets.

The agreement calls for the project to include a phosphate mine as well as factories to process the material in Bao Thang province in Vietnam. The production facilities would be for a variety of downstream products.

The memorandum is part of ICL’s strategy to increase and diversify its mining sources outside of Israel, and broaden its global presence in the phosphate sector. ICL said that the planned Vietnam operations would not replace its activities in Israel but rather strengthen its presence in the global phosphate market, especially in Asia. ICL has stepped up its search for phosphate mines outside of Israel due to concern that a planned new mine at Sde Barir may not be approved by the government due to environmental concerns.

Duc Giang is a producer of thermal acid and is in the process of expanding its fertilizer activities and produce phosphoric acid for the fertilizer and food industries.

Federated Co-operatives Ltd., Saskatoon, on behalf of the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS), has entered into an agreement to purchase 17 fertilizer, seed and agriculture chemical supply centers from Viterra Inc. Pending completion of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close by the end of September.

Included in the deal are eight sites in Saskatchewan (Canwood, Cupar, Leoville, Lloydminster, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Strasbourg, White Star), eight in Alberta (Barons, Claresholm, Crossfield, Grimshaw, High River, Manning, Stettler, Viking) and one in Manitoba (Roblin).

“This agreement enhances our federation’s agri-business presence across the Prairies,” says FCL’s Ron Healey, associate vice president, ag and home products. “We are pleased to be acquiring these assets and look forward to acquainting new employees and customers with the CRS and the benefits it has to offer.”

The purchase is a two-step transaction for FCL: first, to acquire the 17 sites from Viterra; and, second, to transfer ownership and operations to local retail Co-ops. FCL and local retail Co-ops are working together to finalize details of the ownership transfer and will announce details once the deal with Viterra is closed in September.

The employees at the 17 centers will be offered similar terms and conditions of employment within the CRS.

Once the sale is finalized, new customers will be contacted about the changes and informed about the benefits of buying their products from Co-op. They will be welcomed and encouraged to take out a Co-op membership, which gives them access to Co-op products and service, an equity account and the opportunity for cash back on their overall purchases.

Retail Co-ops currently operate more than 140 ag centers in Western Canada.