TOPIC PAGE: Sustainability in the fertilizers industry
Erica Sesay
25-Jan-2023
Updated on 25 January with the latest headlines.
On this topic page, we gather the latest news, analysis and resources, to help you to keep track of developments in the area of sustainability in the fertilizers industry.
LATEST NEWS HEADLINES
BASF and Cargill
extend enzymes business and distribution to
US
By Morgan Condon 25-Jan-23 12:59 LONDON
(ICIS)–BASF and Cargill are expanding their
partnership by rolling out their enzyme
solutions to animal protein producers in the
US, the German major announced on Wednesday.
Saudi Aramco awards sulphur facilities
overhaul contract to Technip
By Erica Sesay 24-Jan-23 12:50 LONDON
(ICIS)–Saudi Aramco has awarded a contract to
engineering firm Technip Energies to upgrade
the sulphur recovery facilities at its Riyadh
refinery, Technip announced on Tuesday.
The contract covers improving the performance of the existing three sulphur recovery units to comply with more stringent regulations for sulphur dioxide emissions, with recovery efficiency at more than 99.9%.
India sets green
hydrogen targets for shipping, oil & gas,
fertilizer sectors
By Priya Jestin 16-Jan-23 09:42 MUMBAI
(ICIS)–As part of its aim to achieve its net
zero carbon emission goal by 2070, the Indian
government has released a blueprint for its
National Green Hydrogen Mission which has set
consumption targets for various industries,
including the oil and gas and fertilizer
industrie
Germany misses climate target despite lower energy consumption
By Stefan Baumgarten 06-Jan-23 16:00 LONDON (ICIS)–Germany missed its 2022 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction target despite declining energy consumption and an increase in the use of renewables, according to a study this week.
TFI reacts to US Congress passing the
Water Resources Development
Act
By Mark Milam 19-Dec-22 22:00 HOUSTON
(ICIS)–The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) said it
applauds the US Congress for passing the Water
Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, a key
piece of legislation related to the nation’s
water infrastructure.
Helm becomes a
shareholder in UK bio-fertilizer company Unium
Bioscience
By Sylvia Traganida 13-Dec-22 14:19 LONDON
(ICIS)–German fertilizers trader and producer
Helm has agreed to acquire an undisclosed share
in UK bio-fertilizer company Unium Bioscience.
Yara inks deal to
deliver fossil-free green fertilizers to
Argentina
By Sylvia Traganida 02-Dec-22 13:49 LONDON
(ICIS)–Yara has signed a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) with El Parque Papas to
deliver green fertilizers to Argentina in 2023,
the Norwegian fertilizer major said.
Canadian firms
plan fuel cell generator pilot using green
ammonia
By Stefan Baumgarten 22-Nov-22 14:40 TORONTO
(ICIS)–Canadian firms AmmPower and Alkaline
Fuel Cell Power (“PWWR”) have signed a
non-binding letter of intent to form a joint
venture for a fuel cell generator pilot project
running on green ammonia, officials said on
Tuesday.
Deepak Fertilizers awards contract to
reduce emissions, increase
productivity
By Erica Sesay 08-Nov-22 11:54 LONDON
(ICIS)–India’s Deepak Fertilizers and
Petrochemicals Corporation (DFPCL) has awarded
a contract to engineering firm KBR to help
three of its plants achieve lower emissions and
higher production capacity, KBR announced.
Saudi Aramco launches $1.5bn
sustainability fund to support net zero
ambition
By Nurluqman Suratman 27-Oct-22 04:06 SINGAPORE
(ICIS)–Saudi Aramco is creating a $1.5bn
sustainability fund to invest in technologies
to support its announced net-zero ambition by
2050 as well as the development of new
lower-carbon fuels, the oil giant said late on
Wednesday.
CF Industries and
ExxonMobil plan CCS project in
Louisiana
By Stefan Baumgarten 12-Oct-22 20:30 HOUSTON
(ICIS)–US fertilizer company CF Industries has
entered an agreement with ExxonMobil to capture
and permanently store up to 2m tonnes/year of
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from its
manufacturing complex in Louisiana, officials
said on Wednesday.
Canada’s plan to
cut fertilizer emissions is voluntary –
minister
By Stefan Baumgarten 19-Aug-22 16:02 TORONTO
(ICIS)–The Canadian federal government’s
target to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
from fertilizers is voluntary, not mandatory,
agricultural minister Marie Claude Bibeau said.
Canada’s fertilizer emission goal
raises food production
concerns
By Erica Sesay 16-Aug-22 15:38 LONDON
(ICIS)–Canada’s emission lowering goal has
raised some concerns in the agriculture sector
about a possible reduction in the country’s
future crop yields.
EU CARBON BORDER ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM (CBAM) EXPLAINED
What is it?
The risk of carbon leakage frustrates the EU’s efforts to meet climate objectives. It occurs when companies transfer production to countries that are less strict on emissions, or when EU products are replaced by more carbon-intensive imports.
This new mechanism would counteract this risk by putting a carbon price on imports of certain goods from outside of the EU.
How will it work?
EU importers will buy carbon certificates corresponding to the carbon price that would have been paid, had the goods been produced under the EU’s carbon pricing rules.
Conversely, once a non-EU producer can show that they have already paid a price for the carbon used in the production of the imported goods, the corresponding cost can be fully deducted for the EU importer.
This will help reduce the risk of carbon leakage by encouraging producers in non-EU countries to make their production processes greener.
A reporting system will apply from 2023 with the objective of facilitating a smooth roll out and to facilitate dialogue with non-EU countries. Importers will start paying a financial adjustment in 2026.
How is the fertilizer industry affected?
The fertilizer industry is one of the sectors to fall under the CBAM.
The more energy-intensive nitrogen fertilizers will be affected most in the sector by the mechanism.
DEFRA CONSULTATIONS EXPLAINED
The UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) launched a consultation at the beginning of November 2020 on reducing ammonia emissions from urea fertilizers. The consultation ran until 26 January 2021.
It set out three options for tackling ammonia emissions:
- A total ban on solid urea fertilizers
- A requirement to stabilise solid urea fertilizers with the addition of a urease inhibitor.
- A requirement to restrict the spreading of solid urea fertilizers to between 15 January and 31 March of a given year.
Liquid urea is excluded from any new rules or restrictions.
DEFRA is currently analysing the feedback received.
In March 2022, DEFRA announced that it had delayed introducing restrictions on the use of urea by at least a year to support farmers with fertilizer availability and keep their costs down
Should DEFRA decide to restrict the use of urea in the future, growers would be left with just ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers.
PREVIOUS NEWS HEADLINES
Vopak preparing for green ammonia handling and storage at Vlissingen, the Netherlands
US ADM and PepsiCo. announce agreement to reduce carbon intensity
Uniper, Vesta to cooperate on renewable ammonia site in the Netherlands
German Uniper to work with Japan’s JERA on US clean ammonia projects
ADNOC ships first cargo of low-carbon ammonia to Germany
Northern Nutrients produces new nitrogen sulphur fertilizer, targets autumn sales
Ameropa and Hynfra sign deal to explore green ammonia, methanol
Canada invests about $1.7m towards high-efficiency fertilizer
Highfield Resources announces launch of community initiative at Muga Potash project
US Mosaic and BioConsortia expand collaboration to microbial biostimulant
IMO deems Mediterranean Sea area for sulphur oxides emissions control
Canada’s Soilgenic launches new enhanced efficiency fertilizers technology for retail
Austria’s Borealis aims to produce 1.8m tonnes/year of circular products by 2030
European Parliament rejects proposed carbon market reform
IFA ’22: southern Africa looks to bio-fertilizer as cheaper, sustainable option
IFA ’22: Indian farmers will struggle to embrace specialty fertilizers – producer
Canadian Nutrien plans to build world’s largest clean ammonia facility in Louisiana
Japan’s JGC Holdings awards green ammonia plant contract to KBR
US ReMo Energy launches green ammonia product to address fertilizer cost and climate change
Norway’s Yara evaluates potential stock listing of Yara Clean Ammonia unit on Oslo Stock Exchange
Saskatchewan government extends 4R Nutrient Stewardship agreement for three more years
Anuvia Plant Nutrients secures funding to scale US production of sustainable fertilizer
Verde AgriTech announces technology to incorporate microorganisms in fertilizer products
Bayer to partner with Ginkgo to produce sustainable fertilizers
OCI looking to expand Texas nitrogen output and create renewable fuel plant
Australia Orica and H2U Group partner on Gladstone green ammonia project
Canada sets tax credit of up to 60% for carbon capture projects
Keras Resources increases ownership of the Diamond Creek Phosphate Mine in Utah
UK delays urea restrictions to support farmers as fertilizer costs at record high
EU states agree to back carbon border tax
Yara to develop novel green fertilizer from recycled nutrients
USDA announces plans for $250m grant programme to support American-made fertilizer
Canada seeks guidance to achieve fertilizer emissions target
Fertilizer titan Pupuk Indonesia develops hydrogen/blue ammonia business
India
launches green hydrogen/ammonia policy, targets
exports
Canada AmmPower to develop green hydrogen and
ammonia facility in Louisiana
US DOE awards grant to project to recover rare earth elements from phosphate production
Fertiglobe, Masdar, Engie to develop green hydrogen for ammonia production
Czech Republic’s Spolana enhances granular AS production
India’s Reliance to invest $80bn in green energy projects
Yara, Sweden’s Lantmannen aim to commercialise green ammonia by 2023
Novatek and Uniper target Russia to Germany blue-ammonia supply chain
Fertz giant Yara goes green with electrification of Norwegian factoryCanada
Arianne Phosphate exploring use of phosphate for hydrogen technology
FAO and IFA renew MoU to promote sustainable fertilizer use
Sumitomo Chemical, Yara to explore clean ammonia collaboration
Sri Lanka revokes ban on imports
Tokyo scientists convert bioplastic into nitrogen fertilizer
Aramco plans Saudi green hydrogen, ammonia project
China announces action plan for carbon peaking & neutrality
Saudi Aramco targets net zero emissions from operations by 2050
Fertiglobe goes green with Red Sea zero-carbon ammonia pro
Australian fertilizer major Incitec Pivot teams up for green ammonia study
INTERVIEW: BASF to scale up new decarbonisation tech in second half of decade – CEO
India asks fertilizer companies to speed up production of nano DAP
Japan’s Itochu set to receive first cargo of blue ammonia for fertilizer use
Norway’s Yara acquires recycled fertilizers maker Ecolan
Bayer Funds US start-up aims to cut nitrogen fertilizer use by 30%
BP: Green ammonia production in Australia feasible, but needs huge investment
Origin and MOL explore shipping green ammonia from Australia
India’s IFFCO seeks to export nano urea fertilizer
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