Germany’s Uhde has been commissioned by Helwan Fertilizer to build an ammonia/urea complex in Helwan

Germany’s Uhde has been commissioned by Helwan Fertilizer to build an ammonia/urea complex in Helwan, about 30km south of Cairo, Egypt. The complex will produce 396 000 tonne/year of ammonia and 635 250 tonne/year of urea at its start-up in mid-2007.

The ammonia unit will use Uhde’s proprietary process while the urea plant will be based on Stamicarbon’s synthesis and granulation technologies. The €200m turnkey contract includes engineering, equipment supply, construction and commissioning, and all utilities and off-site units.

The deal follows two contracts awarded in January this year for almost identical fertiliser complexes in Egypt. The plants, for Egyptian Fertiliser and Alexandria Fertiliser, are due to start up in 2006. Output from these and the Helwan complex will serve both the domestic and export markets.

- Meanwhile, Uhde India has received a contract from Kanoria Chemicals & Industries to erect a chlor-alkali plant at its complex in Renukoot, Uttar Pradesh, India. The 363 000 tonne/year membrane cell facility will be built on a fast-track basis with commissioning planned for early 2006.