The plant at Belle Plaine, Sask., would include technology to minimize its carbon footprint and streamline handling
REGINA — The proponents of a proposed fertilizer plant near Belle Plaine, Sask., have announced that a conceptual design study is moving ahead.
Genesis Fertilizers and thyssenkrupp Uhde have partnered for this stage of the development, which is the pre-front end engineering and design.
The plant is expected to produce about 1,500 tonnes per day of ammonia and 2,600 tonnes per day of urea. Other products include urea ammonium sulphate, diesel exhaust fluid, or DEF, and possibly nitric acid and urea ammonium nitrate.
The partnership indicates the start of pre-front-end engineering and design to set out the basics of capacity, technology, product mixes, and more.
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The companies said in a news release that the product formulations at the plant are expected to “greatly streamline fertilizer handling in Canada” and lead to a notable reduction in the carbon footprint associated with fertilizer production.
“Our primary goal is to build the most cost-efficient production and supply of nitrogen fertilizers to the farmers in Western Canada based on the most advanced technologies available, while considering the carbon impact,” said Genesis president Jason Mann.
“This project signifies that the transition of the fertilizer industry to become more environmentally friendly has started.”
Thyssenkrupp Uhde will provide engineering services focussed on minimizing emissions.
“Thyssenkrupp Uhde’s proven EnviNOx technology, for example, will almost completely eliminate nitrogen oxides from nitric acid production,” the news release said. “Furthermore, the design of the plant will consider the potential use of renewable-based hydrogen and electricity.”
Chief operating officer Lucretia Löscher said thyssenkrupp Uhde’s expertise in clean fertilizer “is essential to support our customers on their journey to protect the climate.”
The company has more than 100 years of experience building more than 2,500 chemical plants. Of those, 130 are ammonia and fertilizer plants. The company also has clean ammonia technologies and storage, which it says are part of the transition to clean energy.
Genesis vice-president of business development, Terry Drabiuk, said Canadian farmers are the investors and customers in this project.
“They deserve ownership in a fertilizer complex that will be globally recognized for both its production excellence and its sustainability contributions,” he said.
Genesis announced its intent to build at Belle Plaine in January 2023, saying it would cost about $1.7 billion.
That came after an announcement 10 years earlier by Farmers of North America. However, that plan to obtain a partner to help pay for the project did not come to fruition. Farmers who had invested in the original FNA proposal received Genesis shares.
