Ukrainian fertilizer producer OPZ receives five offers in gas tolling tender

LONDON (ICIS)–Ukrainian urea and ammonia manufacturer Odessa Port Plant (OPZ) on Tuesday revealed it received five offers under its 13 July gas tolling tender, including an approach from current supplier Agro Gas Trading (AGT).

The remaining quartet comprises IBE Trade Corp, Maddox SA, OKKO Contract Private Enterprise, and SOCAR Energy Ukraine Limited Liability Company, OPZ noted in a short statement on its website not immediately available in English.

The state-owned nitrogen fertilizer manufacturer added potential bidders for the natural gas supply contract unable to lodge expressions of interest before the deadline due to “technical reasons” or “unforeseen circumstances”, have until 13:00 local time on Wednesday to do so.

On 30 June, OPZ extended its gas tolling arrangement with AGT by two months, meaning its plants on the shore of the Black Sea will run throughout July and August, although one of the two prilled urea units is in turnaround at present.

The pair’s existing deal expired on that date, but OPZ explained the short-term contract was agreed as it does not expect to award its tender until mid-August.

Maddox SA is a privately-owned, Geneva-based company trading physical oil and oil-related financial derivatives, while SOCAR Energy Ukraine is part of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).

IBE Trade Corp is a New York-headquartered producer and trader of chemical fertilizers with an established office at Yuzhny – the port adjacent to Odessa where large volumes of Russian and Ukrainian ammonia and urea are loaded for export each month.

OKKO Contract Private Enterprise does not appear to have a website, but seems to be based in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.

OPZ is one of Ukraine’s leading ammonia and urea producers, as well as a major transshipment hub for both crop nutrients. Photo courtesy of OPZ.