Victorian Hydrogen unveils coal-to-fertilizer project

The facility would be located approximately 30 km northeast of the city of Invercargill and is intended to reduce import dependence and stabilise domestic supply by producing up to 1.5 million tpy of urea. The project is expected to have a fast-tracked approvals process. Meanwhile, preliminary geological and hydrological studies will be completed by the New Zealand spring season, with a targeted three-year timeline to reach full production.

Executive Director Allan Blood has stated that the project will use established lignite gasification technology to convert brown coal into urea through hydrogen and ammonia synthesis, similar to another recent plant in Zambia. He noted the development will not require farm acquisitions, as mining will occur in narrow, rotating strips with progressive land rehabilitation. The company is also evaluating environmental uses for captured CO₂ such as algae-based animal feed, construction materials, and emissions-reduction technologies, and plans to generate surplus electricity for potential export to the grid.

The proposal for the new plant has come at a time when New Zealand faces tightening domestic gas supplies and ongoing exposure to global fertilizer market volatility. Allan Blood stated the country imports approximately 500 000 tpy of urea and produces approximately 265 000 tpy domestically. Rob Scott observed that increasing local production could reduce the country’s reliance on imports, but emphasised the need to carefully evaluate environmental and economic impacts as the project progresses.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldfertilizer.com/nitrogen/30042026/victorian-hydrogen-unveils-coal-to-fertilizer-project/