BASF and Yara eye Gulf blue ammonia export project

The companies plan to complete the feasibility study on the low-carbon blue ammonia production facility by the end of 2023. Yara Clean Energy noted that the ammonia is intended to meet demand for low-carbon ammonia for fertiliser production, as well as for emerging demand for ammonia as a maritime fuel, as a power generation feedstock, and as a hydrogen carrier. 

Yara notes that the project intends to capture approximately 95% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) generated from the production process, which would then be captured and permanently stored in the ground. The ammonia product has identical characteristics to conventionally produced ammonia. 

Since the CO2 generated in the production process is captured and not released to the atmosphere, blue ammonia plays a significant role in the transition to alternative, less carbon-intensive products. 

“This project underlines BASF’s commitment to drive the sustainable transformation of the chemical industry. Our existing Verbund sites in the region with integrated material flows and advanced infrastructure would be ideally suited for the integration of a new world-scale ammonia facility that has the potential to significantly improve the carbon footprint of both our own operations and the various industries we serve,” said Dr. Ramkumar Dhruva, President Monomers Division, BASF.

The two companies currently operate an ammonia production facility at Freeport in Texas.