PJSC Dorogobuzh (part of Acron Group) has finalised technical upgrades to its unit producing ammonia, a basic component for nitrogen and complex mineral fertilisers. Over 440,000 tonnes of ammonia have already been produced since the day the first on-spec product was delivered after the upgrades.
The upgrades increased plant capacity from 1,740 tonnes to 2,100 tonnes per day and improved energy efficiency by reducing natural gas consumption by 7% per tonne of ammonia. Annual output is expected to go up 130,000 tonnes. Investments in the project exceeded RUB 5 billion.
The project was designed by LLC Novgorodsky GIAP, and the work was carried out by Dorogobuzh and Acron employees and 60 contractors from around the country, who brought in over 1,100 specialists and 50 pieces of equipment.
This is the first post-Soviet project to achieve an output of 2,100 tonnes per day for TEC, KLE, and GIAP projects (Soviet chemical enterprises used KBR technology). Dorogobuzh is the first chemical facility in the country to use a KRES heat exchange reformer technology from the American KBR, which improved the overall efficiency of the reformers.
Vladimir Kunitsky, the Group's CEO, is confident that the upgrades will open up new opportunities. “The upgrades to the Dorogobuzh ammonia unit are an essential part of our technology development programme. The increase in the unit's capacity will give us additional ammonia to use for new projects."
The Dorogobuzh ammonia plant was originally commissioned in December 1979 with a design capacity of 450,000 tonnes per year. In September 1981, the grade A liquid synthetic ammonia produced at the Dorogobuzh nitrogen fertiliser plant was awarded the State Quality Mark.