Russian ammonia and urea producer PJSC Togliattiazot (Toaz) on Feb. 25 confirmed the suspension of the transit of ammonia via its pipeline – which runs to the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odessa – and said it had halted operations at four of its ammonia units and put the three units into “a reduced load” mode as a result.
All of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports were closed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week (GM Feb. 25, p. 2), and all producers in the area have declared force majeure on exports.
Toaz said its ammonia production will continue in “the quantity sufficient to ensure the internal production of urea and urea formaldehyde concentrate, as well as to ensure fulfilment of all obligations to the consumers of ammonia, shipment to whom is performed by railway transport.” According to Green Markets sources, this was not for export.
The rest of the production facilities at the Toaz industrial site, as well as all auxiliary services, are operating normally, according to the producer.
Toaz said its management is working on alternative ways to deliver products to consumers, including an increase of railway shipments.