OCI gears up to meet growing ammonia demand with Rotterdam terminal expansion

OCI NV, a producer and distributor of natural gas-based fertilizers and industrial chemicals based in the Netherlands, has made a final investment decision (FID) for the first phase of its ammonia import terminal expansion project at the Port of Rotterdam.

As disclosed, the expansion will be developed under a staged investment approach, with an initial increase in throughput capacity from the current c.400 ktpa to up to 1.2 million metric tons per year. This is to be achieved through low-cost upgrades to OCI’s existing infrastructure.

The total investment costs for the first phase are estimated to be below $20 million, with completion expected in 2023, according to OCI.

For the second phase, the company has completed a basic engineering package for the construction of a new world-scale ammonia tank at the terminal, which, along with a scale-up in jetty infrastructure, will allow a potential increase in throughput to above 3 million tons per annum. 

“… This project is a very logical step to leverage our incumbency status in Rotterdam to enhance our ammonia value chain: never has this been as vital as it is now. We are pleased to announce this milestone, enhancing a key ammonia import and future bunkering hub and aggregation point for low-carbon ammonia…,” Ahmed El-Hoshy, Chief Executive Officer of OCI NV commented.