QatarEnergy to build 1.2-million tpy blue ammonia plant

Sept. 1, 2022
QatarEnergy affiliates QatarEnergy Renewable Solutions and Qatar Fertiliser agreed to build the 1.2-million tpy Ammonia-7 blue ammonia project, targeting first-quarter 2026 startup.

QatarEnergy affiliates QatarEnergy Renewable Solutions and Qatar Fertiliser Co. (QAFCO) have agreed to build the 1.2-million tonne/year (tpy) Ammonia-7 blue ammonia project, targeting first-quarter 2026 startup. QAFCO will run the plant as part of its integrated operations in Mesaieed Industrial City (MIC).

A consortium of thyssenkrupp Uhde GMBH and Consolidated Contractors Co. (CCC) won the project’s $1-billion engineering, procurement, and construction contract.

QatarEnergy described the project as building on its expertise in making conventional ammonia for the sake of fertilizer production. Blue ammonia is produced by capturing and storing the CO2 created, with the ammonia itself transportable by ship for use in low-carbon electricity generation.  

Under terms of the agreement QatarEnergy Renewable Solutions will:

  • Develop and manage 1.5 million tpy of integrated carbon capture and storage (CCS) for use with the Ammonia-7 plant.
  • Supply more than 35 Mw of renewable electricity to Ammonia-7 from its photovoltaic solar powerplant in MIC, currently under construction.
  • Develop and lead the process for certifying the product produced by Ammonia-7 as blue ammonia, with the involvement of industry experts and independent bodies.
  • Be the sole off-taker and marketer of Ammonia-7’s production.

QatarEnergy has a goal of developing 11 million tpy of domestic CCS by 2035. It describes QAFCO as the world’s largest integrated single-site producer of ammonia, with current capacity of 4 million tpy.

German LNG Terminal GMBH is building an 8-million tpy LNG terminal in Brunsbüttel, Germany, designed to import ammonia as well (OGJ Online, Aug. 1, 2022).