Indorama begins countdown to inauguration of $1.4 billion new fertilizer plant in PH

Indorama Eleme Fertilizer & Chemicals Limited (IEFCL), Port Harcourt, a sister company to Indorama Eleme petrochemicals has begun countdown to the inauguration of its US$1.4 billion 1.4 million metric tons (MT) new fertilizer plant in Port Harcourt, which is slated for this first quarter (Q1 2016).

The IEFCL is a brand new fertilizer plant, which is world class in its facilities and technology, and “puts Nigeria on the global fertilizer map,” said Manish Mundra, the managing director and chief executive officer of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Nigeria, in the company’s “Impact,” an in-house publication.

Highlights of the incoming fertilizer plant are that it attracted $1.4 billion foreign direct investment; has 1.4 million MT capacities; an 84-kilometer gas pipeline to supply natural gas liquid (NGL) feedstock; a port terminal at Onne Port Complex, Port Harcourt. These two are being synchronized with the fertilizer plant, and would be commissioned at the same time.

At the time, several critical sections of the plant are going through various stages of pre-commissioning and test-run, leading up to the plant’s inauguration this quarter.

Some sections of the plant which have been completed include: the Central Control Room, Ammonia and Urea Cooling Towers, Utility Boiler, Air Compressor, which are said to have been commissioned and are functional. Others such as: the Primary and Secondary Reformer, Granulation, Material Handling System is in advanced stages of construction and pre-commissioning activities.

The fertilizer plant is said to have world scale capacity of Urea 4,000 metric tons per day (MT/day) or 1.4 million MT per annum. It is energy efficient and has state-of-the-art technology from world class process licensors – the KBR of USA and Toyo Engineering of Japan.

Mundra, the MD/CEO of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited (IEPL), the parent company of the fertilizer plant, said the $1.4 billion cost of the plant is foreign direct investment (FDI) from Indorama Corporation, funded majorly by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an arm of the World Bank, and some Nigerian banks.

Mundra stated that the 1.4 million MT fertilizer plant is one of Nigeria’s biggest FDI in downstream sector of the economy.

According to Uptal Chatterjee, the project director of the fertilizer plant, they are using KBR’s Purifier Ammonia Process Technology for the Ammonia; adding that KBR is the leading global engineering, construction and technology service provider.

He said, for the Urea plant, they deployed Toyo’s Urea Synthesis Process Technology (known as ACES 21 Technology). They also used Spout Bed Fluidizing Technology for the Urea Granulation.

Chatterjee said the introduction of these technologies makes Indorama’s Fertilizer a world-class plant; adding that the plant adopted state-of-the-art construction methodologies, using latest construction equipment, high capacity cranes, committed and skilled manpower and supervision.

Meanwhile, industry experts and stakeholders say, for Indorama to complete such a large-scale technology-driven project in stipulated time frame, was a remarkable record in Nigeria.

Mundra, the Indorama CEO is already expressing his excitement on the feat; saying it would greatly boost Nigeria’s agricultural sector, provide needed fertilizers for farmers across the country, improve crop yield, fight hunger and poverty, and create numerous employment opportunities.

He said, he believes the Indorama fertilizer would greatly enhance Nigeria’s brand reputation, as it puts the nation on the global fertilizer map as a producer and exporter of fertilizers.

Industry records show that Indorama fertilizer is the world’s largest gas-based single stream Urea plant. The construction is being handled by Toyo Engineering of Japan and South Korea’s Daewoo Nigeria Limited.

Groundbreaking for the fertilizer plant was performed in April 2013, with a commitment by S.P. Lohia, chairman of Indorama Corporation that the plant would be completed on schedule.

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