Acron to increase urea capacity at Veliky Novgorod facility

With completion scheduled for 2024, the project will increase the total capacity of urea units 1-4 by 55%, from 2000 tpd to 3100 tpd, boosting annual output by 390 000 t.

Stamicarbon has been selected as the basic design and technology licensor. The investment project will also include installing a new urea synthesis shop.

Chairman of Acron’s Board of Directors Alexander Popov commented: ‘Acron’s efforts to create and expand capacity are in line with the ESG strategy, which is aimed at conserving natural resources and increasing equipment efficiency. In addition to improved technology, our efforts include environmental protection and environmental safety enhancement. Urea production involves the use of carbon dioxide, and the project will reduce direct CO₂ emissions by 270 000 tpy.

‘Soaring food prices propel farmers all over the world to purchase and store mineral fertilizers, which raises global prices for our products. This trend helps Russian fertilizer companies to reduce their debt burden and schedule the start of a new investment cycle. The additional cash flow strengthens producers’ balance sheets and serves as a source of investment programme funding. Given that the climate agenda and green investments aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions are major risks for the market positions of all Russian industrial companies, it is essential to maintain the current global pricing environment as long as possible, since the green transition can only be accomplished using domestic sources of financing’.

Today, the Acron facility in Veliky Novgorod has six urea units in operation. The first four units, with a total design capacity of 360 000 tpy, were put on stream in 1969-1972 and subsequently upgraded to 730 000 tpy. In 2012, the company commissioned the 350 000-tpy urea-5 unit, which was later upgraded to 515 000 tpy. The Urea-6 unit, with a capacity of 210 000 tpy, was put into operation at the end of 2018. The company is currently completing its Urea-6+ project, which will increase the unit’s capacity to 730 000 tpy. Once all these upgrades are complete, the Group’s Novgorod-based facility will be able to produce over 2.3 million t of urea annually, making Acron the largest urea facility in Europe.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldfertilizer.com/project-news/07072021/acron-to-increase-urea-capacity-at-veliky-novgorod-facility/