ORLEN will enhance Poland's food securityc
The ORLEN Group's ANWIL is finalizing the construction of the third nitrogen fertilizer production line, which will reduce imports of fertilizer products and strengthen Poland's food security. This will be possible as a result of a 50% increase in fertilizer production capacity and expansion of the Company's product portfolio. It is the largest investment project in the history of ANWIL and the entire region, both in terms of finance and the production capacity achieved. The Wloclawek plant is also part of ORLEN Group's strategic plans in the area of carbon neutrality. The state-of-the-art solution used will enable almost complete reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in fertilizer production.
- We are finalizing another modern investment that will strengthen ORLEN Group's production capacity, this time in the area of fertilizers. The launch of the investment, already at this stage, has made it possible to increase employment at the plant by about 10 percent, and will soon have a real impact on agricultural development. A decisive increase in the country's own production of fertilizers will guarantee the stability of their supply to the domestic market, thus increasing Poland's food security. We assume that larger quantities of modern products from the ORLEN Group's offer will be available in the next fertilizer season, i.e., in the spring of 2024. This will significantly strengthen ORLEN's position in the competitive market”, says Daniel Obajtek, CEO of ORLEN.
The third fertilizer production line includes the nitric acid and neutralization plant, the granulation plant and auxiliary infrastructure. Its construction increases ANWIL's existing production capacity by 50 percent, to 1,461 thousand tons per year. The state-of-the-art technology used not only guarantees increased productivity but also production continuity.
- Expansion of fertilizer production capacity at ANWIL is a key decision in the history of our company, and will bring measurable benefits in the coming years. The implementation of this project is of great importance, not only for the development of the Company itself but also for the region and its residents. Environmental issues are also noteworthy. State-of-the-art technologies, that have been used, significantly reduce emissions and allow the plant to become self-sufficient in terms of energy. This minimizes our impact on the environment and results in a responsible implementation of the ORLEN Group's strategy, also in this area. It is worth noting that the new nitric acid plant will also generate electricity with a capacity of 9 MW, which is exactly what we need to power it”, said Agnieszka Żyro, CEO of ANWIL.
Leading global EnviNOx technology was used in the construction of the third fertilizer production line. It will enable the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in production by about 99 percent, or about 4,200 tons of nitrogen oxides. The technology was recognized by the European Union as the "best available technique” (BAT) in 2008 and continues to be recommended as the leading technology for all nitric acid plants.
The investment covered both production facilities and supporting infrastructure, including warehouses capable of storing up to 25,000 tons of products. The finished fertilizers will be seasoned there for 72 hours before packing. One of the most important pieces of infrastructure required for the nitric acid production process is the absorption tower, 55 meters high and weighing 200 tons. As part of the expansion of the fertilizer production capacity, an 84-meter residual gas stack and a nitric acid tank with a capacity of as much as 4,000 m³ were also built.
Modern agriculture is based on thoughtful crop planning and the use of modern technologies. With the third fertilizer production line in ORLEN Group's product portfolio, customers will find four new fertilizers that meet the highest quality standards: coarse-grained saltpeter, ammonium nitro sulfate, nitro-chalk with sulfur and nitro-chalk with magnesium with improved granule parameters. These fertilizers are growing in popularity among farmers. They are characterized by a more spherical shape and reduced moisture absorption, which has a positive effect on the efficiency of field work, especially on farms with large acreage.