OCI announced that it has made a final investment decision (FID) for the first phase of its ammonia import terminal expansion project in the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
The terminal is strategically located to facilitate emerging ammonia demand for bunkering to ocean-going vessels, and to act as a hub for hydrogen imported in the form of ammonia from regions with ample natural gas and renewable resources such as the Middle East & North Africa to meet Europe’s expected future hydrogen deficit.
The expansion will be developed under a staged investment approach, with an initial increase in throughput capacity from the current c.400 ktpa to up to 1.2 million metric tons per year to be achieved through low-cost upgrades to OCI’s existing infrastructure. Total investment cost for the first phase is estimated to be below $20 million, with completion expected in 2023.
For the second phase, OCI has completed a basic engineering package for the construction of a new world-scale ammonia tank at the terminal, which, along with a scale-up in jetty infrastructure, will allow a potential increase in throughput to above 3 million tons per annum. OCI plans to commence permitting activities this year, to be in a position to rapidly increase throughput capacity as demand for clean ammonia develops in the medium-term.
This vital piece of the global value chain will provide essential ammonia to keep downstream fertilizer plants running today in this volatile global natural gas environment, and in the future will also offer low carbon ammonia to feed the Dutch and wider European hydrogen needs
Ahmed El-Hoshy, Chief Executive Officer of OCI NV, commented.
As for Allard Castelein, CEO Port of Rotterdam Authority, he informed that “OCI’s decision is tripling its ammonia import capacity in Rotterdam.” This is something that benefits the Port of Rotterdam, whose ambition is to be a carbon neutral port in 2050.
