Global engineering systems giant Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions has commissioned Egypt’s largest nitrogen fertilizer complex 160km from Cairo, capable of producing 2,400t of ammonia and 3,850t of urea per day at full capacity.
Located in the Damietta free trade zone north-east of the Egyptian capital, the complex will be operated by the Egyptian Nitrogen Products Company (ENPC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Misr Fertilizer Production Company (MOPCO), said a statement from Thyssenkrupp.
“We are elated to have continuous production at our new world-scale fertilizer complex in Damietta. Together with our partner, Thyssenkrupp, we were able to successfully take this mega-project from start to completion, despite the extremely challenging political and economic circumstances in Egypt over the past nine years,” said Greg McGlone, managing director of ENPC.
Thore Lohmann, CEO of Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions (Egypt), added: “This project demonstrates the immense trust of the Egyptian fertilizer industry in our technological capabilities and the strong relationship between Thyssenkrupp and our customers in the region. While we have built 16 out of the 17 existing nitrogen fertilizer plants in the country, we see future growth opportunities especially in the fields of phosphate fertilizers and petrochemicals as well as cement and mining.”
ENPC commissioned Thyssenkrupp to build the new turnkey fertilizer complex, including two ammonia and two urea plants, as well as various offsite and related utility systems, product handling and storage facilities in the year 2007. Being the largest single fertilizer contract in the history of Thyssenkrupp up until then, it included the entire engineering works, equipment supply, construction and commissioning, the statement said.
The ammonia plants are based on Thyssenkrupp’s proprietary ammonia process while the urea plants will use Netherlands-based Stamicarbon’s process. All selected processes are environment-friendly and comply with stringent Egyptian and European standards, Thyssenkrupp said in the statement.
ENPC will use the fertilizer produced in Damietta to serve both domestic and export markets.