UK's Atome takes FID on Paraguay green fertilizer plant

: Fertilizers, Hydrogen
26/04/24

UK fertilizer company Atome has taken a final investment decision (FID) on its 260,000 t/yr Villeta green fertilizers project in Paraguay.

The decision follows several delays to the project, caused by engineering-phase setbacks. Atome listed on the London Stock Exchange in December 2021 and initially aimed to reach FID by mid-2022.

Construction is planned to start "shortly" following FID and full production is expected to begin in or before October 2029, Atome said.

The $665mn Villeta project is the largest electrolysis project to pass FID in Latin America. It will have a 120MW electrolyser, which will be powered by hydropower from state-owned utility Ande.

Atome has secured financing for the Villeta project from a number of multilateral institutions and development banks, including the World Bank, the Green Climate Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank. But unlike most hydrogen projects globally, Atome has managed to reach FID without government subsidies.

The project's equity investment is led by French hydrogen-focused fund Hy24.

Fertilizers produced in Villeta will be supplied to Norway's Yara under a binding 10-year offtake deal agreed last year, aiming to serve demand in South America.

By Pamela Machado

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26/04/24

India plans joint buying of fertilizers, raw materials

London, 24 April (Argus) — India's fertilizer ministry has recommended that national fertilizer companies begin buying fertilizers and raw materials on a collective rather than individual basis. The ministry calls for a three-month period during which Indian fertilizer producers should join together as a consortium, aggregating their demand to ensure supply and competitive prices of key fertilizers such as DAP, MOP and NPS/NPKs as well as raw materials ammonia, sulphur, phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid and phosphate rock. The first step in this regard was taken on Friday, when IPL issued a tender to buy 1.6mn t of DAP and TSP on behalf of the industry — the same approach as has been taken with urea imports for many years. India has struggled to secure sufficient supply of these products following the closure of the strait of Hormuz. The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called on the chemicals and fertilizers ministry to impose a minimum six-month ban on exports of elemental sulphur. By Bede Heren Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

India’s IPL issues tender to buy 1.6mn t of DAP/TSP

26/04/24

India’s IPL issues tender to buy 1.6mn t of DAP/TSP

London, 24 April (Argus) — Indian fertilizer producer and importer IPL has issued a tender to buy 1.2mn t of DAP and 400,000t of granular TSP from producers and trading firms, closing on 4 May. Suppliers are to ship cargoes from loading ports by 15 August. IPL is seeking cargoes to be delivered to ports on both India's east and west coasts. Prices are to be offered separately for east and west coast deliveries. Offers are to be valid to 8 May. IPL said it is issuing the tender on behalf of major phosphate and potash fertilizer firms as part of a consortium approach to importing fertilizers. Argus understands that the Indian government has approved fertilizer importers forming a consortium in response to the global supply disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Costly fertiliser could weigh on Polish power use

26/04/23

Costly fertiliser could weigh on Polish power use

London, 23 April (Argus) — The higher cost of natural gas due to the US-Iran war could limit production of fertilisers and chemicals in Poland, weighing on the industry's power consumption. Polish chemicals company Grupa Azoty — which has a 48pc share of the Polish fertiliser market — is still running at capacity, unlike during the energy crisis of 2022, the firm told Argus . But high gas prices could eventually weigh on production. Chemical industry power use Poland's chemical industry — covering fertilisers, oil products, petrochemicals and other products — consumed 7.3TWh of electricity in 2024, accounting for 4.42pc of Polish demand, according to the latest data from Statistics Poland. Consumption rose by 2pc/yr in 2014-21, reaching 8.27TWh in 2021. But production dropped in 2022, when the energy crisis hit, falling by 5pc and then by a further 13pc in 2023. And while consumption increased in 2024, it only recovered to 2016 levels. The increase in oil and gas prices because of the Middle East conflict since late February has pushed up producers' fuel and raw material costs. Energy can account for 50–80pc of chemical sector production costs, according to industry chamber PIPC. Nitrogenous fertilisers — which made up 75pc of Polish fertiliser production in 2021-25 — use gas as a feedstock and a fuel. The TTF everyday price has risen by 37pc since the start of the conflict and was 23pc up on the year in March. And the price of German CAN fertiliser — indicative of nitrogenous fertiliser prices in the region — has risen by €95/t to €437.50/t since 26 February . Continued disruption could curb demand if farmers use less fertiliser on crops in the face of rising costs, Grupa Azoty said. In 2022, Polish fertiliser output fell because of surging energy prices. Nitrogenous fertiliser production fell by 17pc in 2022 and by 15pc in 2023. But Polish producers might now be in a stronger position, as they face less competition from imports made with cheaper gas owing to new EU tariffs. And since the start of 2026, the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism adds a carbon charge to imports of fertilisers. Poland's fertiliser output was up by 2pc on the year to 411,000t in January-February, although output is still lower than pre-2022 levels. March figures have yet to be released. Little change in production methods Electricity demand in energy-intensive sectors, such as the manufacture of fertilisers and basic chemicals, is "expected to increase" in the longer term, driven by electrification and hydrogen production, PIPC told Argus, although it noted that Poland is constrained by a lack of "affordable renewable electricity and supporting infrastructure". So far, Grupa Azoty says there have have been no changes to production that would "materially" increase its electricity consumption. For now, it is focusing on efficiency improvements that could reduce gas use. Grupa Azoty is "analysing" the viability of partial electrification and adoption of low-emission and green ammonia in operations, but stressed that changes are contingent on "competitively priced" renewable energy. Wind and solar accounted for a combined 27pc of Polish generation last year. But 68pc was from gas, coal or lignite. Outlook for hydrogen in Polish fertilisers Hydrogen — a key component in ammonia — can be produced from natural gas or by electrolysis. Producing ammonia with hydrogen from electrolysis increases power input requirements to 9–12MWh per tonne, compared with roughly 1MWh needed for natural gas-based hydrogen, according to IEA estimates. Poland aims to build 2GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030. But none of Poland's industrial sectors has adopted electrolysis at scale yet, the climate and environment ministry has told Argus . Electrolysis capacity currently stands at 7.5MW. National development bank BGK agreed subsidies in October for five projects with a combined electrolysis capacity of 343MW. But no renewable hydrogen project has reached a final investment decision in Poland to date. Renewable power supply, grid infrastructure and storage capacity might not be sufficient to meet existing targets, PIPC told Argus . And the higher cost of renewable hydrogen relative to fossil-based hydrogen could further "weaken the competitiveness" of Poland's chemical industry. By Jessamy Guest Chemical power, gas use TWh (power LHS, gas RHS) Power consumption, fertiliser output TWh, mn t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Транзит через порт Туркменбаши вырос на 10%

26/04/23

Транзит через порт Туркменбаши вырос на 10%

Riga, 23 April (Argus) — Перевалка всех грузов в Туркменбашинском порту увеличилась в I квартале на 10% относительно января — марта 2025 г. Основной рост был обеспечен увеличением разгрузки партий туркменской нефти, которая поступает на Туркменбашинский НПЗ, а также экспортными поставками серы, объемы которой были перенаправлены с иранского маршрута. Транзит всех грузов через туркменские порты в январе — марте повысился на 23% относительно I квартала 2025 г. Основное увеличение пришлось на поставки карбамида из Бекдаша и перевалку наливных грузов через Окарем. Транзит серы через туркменские порты вырос на фоне перенаправления в марте продукта с иранского направления в Азербайджан и далее в черноморские порты Грузии — Поти и Батуми. Поддержку таким поставкам оказывают высокие котировки продукта в Черноморском регионе, которые с начала марта выросли на 35%, отметили участники рынка. ________________ Больше ценовой информации и аналитических обзоров рынка транспортировки грузов в странах Каспийского региона и Центральной Азии — в отчете Argus Транспорт Каспия . Вы можете присылать комментарии по адресу или запросить дополнительную информацию feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Группа Argus Media . Все права защищены.

Egypt’s NCIC issues another SSP, urea sales tender

26/04/23

Egypt’s NCIC issues another SSP, urea sales tender

London, 23 April (Argus) — Egyptian fertilizer producer NCIC has issued a tender to sell 10,000t of SSP and 7,000t of urea, closing on 27 April. It says that all cargoes will be ready at the port of loading by the end of April and that bids are to be valid for two weeks. NCIC today reported selling DAP, TSP, urea, CAN and SOP in a tender which closed on 20 April. It had offered 15,000t of SSP in the tender but did not issue any awards. It had offered 10,000t of urea, but awarded only 3,000t at $830/t fob. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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UK's Atome takes FID on Paraguay green fertilizer plant

Related news posts

India plans joint buying of fertilizers, raw materials

India plans joint buying of fertilizers, raw materials

India’s IPL issues tender to buy 1.6mn t of DAP/TSP

India’s IPL issues tender to buy 1.6mn t of DAP/TSP

Costly fertiliser could weigh on Polish power use

Costly fertiliser could weigh on Polish power use

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