Italian industrial group Maire Tecnimont SpA (BIT:MT) said on Tuesday that three of its units have begun work on a renewable power-to-fertiliser plant in Kenya.
The subsidiaries in question are project developer MET Development SpA, urea plants specialist Stamicarbon and green chemistry firm NextChem SpA. MET has inked a deal with Oserian Development Company that calls for the execution of the project at the Oserian Two lakes industrial park, located on the southern banks of Lake Naivasha.
Maire said that the project will use about 70 MW of renewable power, partly generated by on-site solar installations. Moreover, it will be located near the country's largest geothermal energy basin.
Stamicarbon will provide technologies for the production of ammonia and nitrate fertiliser. In turn, NextChem will take care of the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) work, which is seen to begin by the end of the year. The project is currently undertaking preliminary engineering works and is expected to enter the commercial operation stage in 2025. It will be dedicated to local agri-business, Maire noted.
It is estimated that the new facility will emit about 100,000 tonnes less carbon dioxide (CO2) a year compared to a gas-based fertiliser plant.
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