Brazil’s government is seeking to invest in new fertilizer projects in Bolivia that would produce nitrogen fertilizers, including urea, as well as potash and phosphates, according to a Bloomberg report, citing a statement by Bolivian Hydrocarbons and Energy Minister Franklin Molina.
Molina recently met with Brazilian Deputy Agriculture Minister Iraja Lacerda and other officials in La Paz. Molina said the proposed agenda also included collaboration in developing Bolivia’s bio-fuel industry. In addition, a delegation from Brazil’s Petrobras is expected to visit the country to discuss gas exploration.
Brazil is already the main customer of Bolivia’s only urea complex, Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz (formerly Bulo Bulo), which includes two plants. Brazil took an estimated 77% of the offtake in the first quarter, with some 20% going to the domestic market (GM May 5, p. 31). Bolivian urea also goes to Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay (GM Sept. 10, 2021).
The company reported that some 273,688 mt of urea was produced in first-half 2023, with 15% going to the domestic market and 85% for export. The main customers were Brazil and Argentina.
The granular urea complex, which has a 2,100 mt/d nameplate capacity, was restarted in September 2021 after a 22-month hiatus (GM Sept. 10, 2021). The facility began operations in September 2017, but has suffered a series of operational problems since then.
Bolivia is reported to be building a 60,000 mt/y NPK plant in Santivañez in Cochabamba Province with production targeted for 2023 (GM July 15, 2022). It would use urea from the Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz plant. The company has also announced plans to tender in 2023 for the engineering and design studies for a second urea plant (GM Jan. 27, p. 26).