Egypt’s Abu Qir Fertilizers and Chemicals Co. plans to establish a complex to produce ammonia and methanol in the Suez Canal Economic Zone in Ain Sokna, according to a report by Egypt’s Daily News, citing a company statement to the Egyptian Exchange (EGX).
The integrated complex is planned to have a production capacity of 400,000 mt/y of ammonia and 1 million mt/y of methanol.
The company has agreed to conclude a shareholder agreement with the country’s Helwan Fertilizers Co. and Al Ahly Capital Holding Co. to set up the new production complex, although no details have been provided on the respective shareholdings.
Abu Qir Fertilizers’ board has also agreed to engage Germany’s TKFT to undertake technical studies for the expansion of urea granulation production at the Abu Qir 3 production plant (ABUK-3), according to the news report. The study is expected to take two and half months.
The company reported last October that it was assessing the implementation of the additional urea production capacity (GM Oct. 16, 2020).
The proposed project now is looking to raise granulation capacity to 2,500 mt/d from the existing 1,925 mt/d.
The Egyptian fertilizer producer’s board has also agreed to have a marketing and economic feasibility study undertaken for an ammonium nitrate production facility. Back in October, the company had decided to abandon a plan to expand ammonium nitrate production at the ABUK-2 plant (GM Oct. 16, 2020).
The new project being studied comprises production capacity of 1,200 mt/d of ammonia and 2,400 mt/d of ammonium nitrate fertilizers or 3,000 mt/d of calcium ammonium nitrate fertilizers, according to the report. The proposed site for the new plant is on land adjacent to Egypt’s General Co. for Paper Industry, owned by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. (EGPC).
The study is expected to take three months, and according to the report, citing Abu Qir Fertilizers, construction will start after the company completes the land acquisition procedures.