The second ammonia production workshop launched at prjsc “Severodonetsk Azot Association”

PrJSC “Severodonetsk Azot Association”, a member of Group DF nitrogen line of business, commissioned 1-Б ammonia production shop. The planned output capacity of the workshop is 1,360 t of ammonia per day.

“Following the 7.5-years standstill, PrJSC “Severodontesk Azot Association resumed the operations of the second ammonia production facility, i.e. 1-Б workshop. This is an important second stage of growth for us. We will have fewer restrictions, and now we will be able to gradually increase the production of various nitrogen fertilizers without any problems. A year ago, we restored the full production cycle for mineral fertilizers, resuming our own production of ammonia in 1-A workshop. The enterprise was loaded by about 30%. Now our target is to load it at least by 50% at the first stage. In case of demand, we will continue increasing the workload of the workshops. Embargo on Russian fertilizers, as well as significant investments in the company itself, are the factors that contributed to the growth in the output of the mineral fertilizers,” said Leonid Bugaev, Chairman of the Board, PrJSC “Severodonetsk AZOT Association”.

To launch 1-Б workshop, a full range of all preparatory works required according to the regulations was carried out. In particular, diagnostics of equipment and process lines were carried out, control and measurement instruments and control systems were adjusted and checked.

 

The commissioning of 1-Б workshop will enhance the reliability of the entire production cycle at the company, provide greater production flexibility and stability of the entire technological complex of the company.

“In a sense, this is a new margin of safety for the company. 1-Б workshop will add to flexibility and reliability of production. By producing more ammonia, we will be able to increase the production of ammonium nitrate or urea. We will be able to produce more of the product that is more in demand at any given time,” said Leonid Bugaev.

Ammonia production is the first, basic stage in the nitrogen fertilizers manufacturing chain. Nitric acid is produced from ammonia, and then such types of fertilizers as ammonium nitrate, urea or UAN are produced from nitric acid in separate workshops.

 

The company includes: ammonia production facilities 1-A (designed capacity of 1 700 t/day) and 1-Б (designed capacity of 1 360 t/day), urea (carbamide) production facilities (designed capacity of 1 200 t/day), urea (carbamide) production facilities-2 (designed capacity of 800 t/day) nitric acid production facilities (designed capacity of 1 440 t/day, 4 UAL units), ammonium nitrate production facilities (1 550 t/day, two granulation towers) and other units.

 

In March 2020, the full production cycle for the nitrogen fertilizers was restored at PrJSC “Severodonetsk Azot Association”. The company resumed the operations of 1-A ammonia production workshop and urea production workshop. In October, one department of the urea production workshop-2 was put into operation.

 

In 2020, Group DF invested over UAH 100 million to upgrade PrJSC “Severodonetsk Azot Association”. PrJSC “Severodonetsk Azot Association” is a member of Ostchem chemical holding that brings together Group DF nitrogen line of business.

 

1-Б ammonia production workshop was put into operation in 1975. In 2005, the facility underwent its first large-scale modernization, accompanied by the replacement of the reforming furnace, one of the key units of the ammonia workshop. In 2011, PrJSC “Severodonetsk Azot Association” became a part of Ostchem chemical holding that brings together Dmytro Firtash’s Group DF nitrogen line of business. In 2013, a new generation automated process control system was introduced in the workshop. Also in 2013, the ammonia synthesis column was reconstructed by replacing the internal packing and catalyst. The production capacity of 1-Б workshop is 1,360 t of ammonia per day.