Page 160 - CW E-Magazine (23-7-2024)

News from Abroad

MEETING GROWING DEMAND
Kemira boosts ferric chloride capacity in Spain

Finland-based speciality chemi- phorus removal technology. Recovered
cals firm, Kemira, is expanding its phosphorus can be used in agriculture
ferric chloride capacity in Spain. The as a fertiliser.
“mid-single digit millions” investment
at the Tarragona facility will enable Kemira supports its biogas custo-
production of BDP (Biogas Digestion mers by offering tailor-made products
Product) for biogas application. Ferric that work as nutrients in the biological
chloride is also the most commonly biogas process but also remove toxic
used coagulant for phosphorus re- substances from the process. The offer-
duction in wastewater treatment. The ing also includes services linked to the
capacity is planned to be in operation The biogas market is growing fast biogas process, and solutions for opti-
during 2026. in Europe, and the demand for support- mising the biogas production capacity
ing products like Kemira’s iron chlo- and minimising the cost of operation
Ms. Tuija Pohjolainen-Hiltunen, ride-based BDP products is expected without any new investments. The pro-
President Industry & Water segment, to follow. In developing more circular duced biogas is used for energy produc-
said, “This investment fully supports solutions, replacing natural gas with tion, vehicle fuel and replacing natural
our strategy and ambition to grow in biogas/biomethane produced from gas.
water and sustainable solutions. It en- organic waste and agricultural side-pro-
ables us to support our customers in ducts, is an important task where EU The increased capacity of ferric
their sustainability efforts with biogas has high ambitions with the target to chloride will also support the growing
applications and phosphorus removal. produce 35-billion cubic metres of demand of phosphorus removal from
The patented and tailor-made biogas bio-methane by 2030. Phosphorus is wastewater. Ferric chloride removes
products are unique with an added on the EU Critical Raw Materials List phosphorus from wastewater and
potential to significantly enhance the and recovery of this nutrient from the reduces the eutrophication in natural
yield of biogas production.” wastewater is enabled by efficient phos- water bodies.

CHANGE OF PLANS
Incitec Pivot drops plan to sell fertiliser business,

to begin share buyback

Australian fertiliser and chemicals PKT in an acceptable timeframe, and as
firm, Incitec Pivot, has said it has ended a result we made the decision to cease
talks to sell its fertilisers business to negotiations with them,” he added.
Indonesia’s PT Pupuk Kalimantan Timur Mr. Neves said the company will continue
(PKT), and will instead begin a previously to assess options to structurally split its
announced share buyback worth up to two businesses – its Dyno Nobel explo-
900-mn Australian dollars (US$607-mn). sives arm and the fertilisers unit – and it
will continue to manage them separately.
Incitec Pivot had announced in May to prioritise its buyback in the near term, The Dyno Nobel business is targeting
that it was in advanced sale talks with the it said. “Throughout the sale negotiations global growth that should substantially
Indonesian state-owned enterprise, one with PKT, we were focused on complet- improve its financial performance, said
of the largest urea, ammonia and NPK ing a sale transaction in a timely manner Mr. Neves. The fertilisers business
fertiliser producers in Asia. Incitec Pivot to allow us to commence our on-market will remain focused on value-accretive
said the decision to end the negotiations buyback,” said the company’s CEO, market share growth, and is in a strong
is in part due to how long it could take a Mr. Mauro Neves. “We have determined we position for the agricultural season
deal to complete. The company intends are unlikely to achieve this outcome with ahead, he said.

160 Chemical Weekly July 23, 2024

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