thyssenkrupp has announced the appointment of Nadja Håkansson as the company's new Chief Executive Officer of thyssenkrupp Uhde, effective May 1, 2024.

“We are delighted to welcome Nadja Håkansson to thyssenkrupp Uhde as the new CEO,” said Miguel López, CEO of thyssenkrupp AG. “With an extensive background in the energy technology industry, Nadja brings a wealth of experience and leadership to thyssenkrupp Uhde to position the company as an enabler of the industry’s transformation towards further CO₂ emissions reduction.”

“thyssenkrupp Uhde has significant potential for shaping the green transformation in our industry, and I am honored to lead this prestigious company as we embark on this exciting journey together,” said Nadja Håkansson. “I am looking forward to being part of thyssenkrupp Uhde's engineering competence, to fostering a culture of innovation and to delivering sustainable value to our customers & stakeholders.”

The future CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde, Nadja Håkansson, has held various management positions at Siemens and Siemens Energy and looks back on over 18 years of national and international experience in the areas of supply chain management, operations, sales and corporate management. Most recently, as Senior Vice President Region Africa for Siemens Energy, she was responsible for the company’s overall portfolio development in the African market. Nadja holds a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Institute of Technology at Linköping University, Sweden.

About thyssenkrupp Uhde

• Pre-FEED for integrated ammonia/urea/UAS/UAN plant

• Emission minimization through EnviNOx^®, utilization of renewable-based hydrogen and electricity

thyssenkrupp Uhde and Genesis Fertilizers Limited Partnership ("Genesis Fertilizers”) have signed a Pre-FEED (front-end engineering and design) contract to conceptually develop an integrated fertilizer complex to be located at Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan in Canada. The proposed plant will be designed to produce 1,500 mtpd of ammonia, 2,600 mtpd of urea/UAS granulation, nitric acid and UAN plus the ability to produce Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF).

thyssenkrupp Uhde will provide engineering solutions for the integration of the above-listed objectives as a component of this Pre-FEED arrangement, with a key focus on minimizing plant emissions. thyssenkrupp Uhde's proven EnviNOx^® technology, for example, will almost completely eliminate nitrogen oxides from nitric acid production. Furthermore, the design of the plant will consider the potential use of renewable-based hydrogen and electricity.

Jason Mann, President and CEO of Genesis Fertilizers: “Our primary goal is to ensure the supply of fertilizers to the farmers in Western Canada based on the most advanced technologies available with the lowest possible carbon footprint. We are pleased to be working with a strong industry partner that offers expertise in all the processes and technologies involved from a single source.”

Lucretia Löscher, COO thyssenkrupp Uhde: “This project is a further proof that the transition of the fertilizer industry towards more sustainability has started. Our expertise in clean fertilizer technologies and their integration is essential to support our customers on their journey to protect the climate.”

thyssenkrupp Uhde has more than 100 years of experience in the engineering and construction of chemical plants, with more than 2,500 built in total. 130 ammonia and fertilizer plants have been built, including some of the largest plants in the world. These often have set new industry standards, such as the uhde^® dual pressure technology. In addition to the fertilizer business, thyssenkrupp Uhde also offers clean ammonia technologies and ammonia storage, which are relevant for the transition to clean energy and the use of ammonia as an energy and hydrogen carrier.

• Engineering solution by thyssenkrupp Uhde to bring ammonia plant back into operation

• Increase in plant capacity and efficiency

• Ready for blue ammonia production thanks to uhde^® ammonia technology

thyssenkrupp Uhde Egypt has signed a contract with Egypt-based Delta Company for Fertilizer and Chemical Industries to revamp an existing ammonia plant complex located in Dakahlia, Talkha, Egypt. Delta focuses mainly on sustainable and environmentally friendly fertilizer projects in the Arab fertilizer industry.

Responsible for the front-end-engineering-design (FEED), thyssenkrupp Uhde will provide engineering solutions for the revamp of the ammonia plant as well as the ammonia offsite and central utility units.  The company will also supply its state-of-the-art technology for the production of ammonia and urea: the uhde^® ammonia technology.

The uhde^® ammonia technology is a world-leading technology that has been successfully implemented in more than 120 plants worldwide. Together with the FEED solution, this technology will enable the plant to be re-commissioned after a three-year shutdown, while at the same time increasing the plant’s capacity from 1275 to 1400 metric tons of ammonia per day.

Thomas Kufahl, CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde in Egypt: “We are very proud to have been selected as the partner to execute this project and enable the re-commissioning of the ammonia plant together with a capacity increase. Our proven uhde^® ammonia technology and our innovative engineering solutions guarantee the production of high-quality ammonia and urea worldwide.”

Delta’s ammonia plant recommissioning project is in line with the vision held by the Egyptian government and will provide significant impetus to the Egyptian economy during the reopening phase. The ammonia produced will facilitate expansion of the agricultural sector in Egypt.

• Focus on green energy/hydrogen export via ammonia

• Opportunities gain traction through political incentives

Two major trends dominate the energy and natural gas market: the high and volatile price of natural gas, and the shift towards renewable energy sources. While some of the most pressing energy needs can be met by LNG imports, there is growing market interest in ammonia as a carrier for green energy and hydrogen.

Lucretia Löscher, COO thyssenkrupp Uhde: “We have conducted numerous feasibility studies for power-to-hydrogen-to-ammonia development projects. Incentive schemes such as the Inflation Reduction Act, H2 Global and Hydrogen Head Start support the competitiveness of these climate-friendly projects.”

thyssenkrupp Uhde’s competence center for green ammonia in Australia supports a broad variety of customers with techno-economic studies and optimization concepts. In total, the studies already conducted would amount to a potential increase of the global production capacity by around 30 million tpa (tons per annum) of green ammonia. To produce the required green hydrogen, electrolyzers with more than 45 gigawatts would need to be installed with varying power supply configurations. The added up capacities from the studies reflect a significant interest in ammonia as an energy vector, and this underlines its importance for shipping green hydrogen and green energy across the globe. This development marks a fundamental diversification of its primary use as a fertilizer feedstock.

Ammonia market becomes sustainable, new markets emerge

As one of the world’s most traded base chemicals, ammonia is today mainly used for fertilizer production, with natural gas as a feedstock. However, more and more producers are looking for alternatives, and there are two main options. The first is 'blue ammonia', which is still produced from natural gas, but with the CO₂ being captured and stored to reduce the carbon footprint as much as possible. The first projects are already underway, and many countries see this as a viable way to improve sustainability in the short term.

In the medium and long term, the green production of ammonia is key for a sustainable world. Only water, air and renewable electricity are needed to produce this high-demand base chemical in a completely emission-free way. As the global infrastructure for handling, storing, and transporting ammonia already exists, green ammonia could be produced in the sunny Gulf States, Australia or other renewable-rich countries and then transported to countries with high demand for renewable energy or hydrogen, such as many European countries. Ammonia has a volumetric energy density nearly 33% higher than liquid hydrogen, making it more efficient and cost-effective to transport. It also liquefies at -33°C, which is easier to achieve and maintain than the near-absolute-zero temperature of -253°C required for hydrogen liquefaction.

Ammonia cracking, or direct use in either power generation or as marine fuel

When green ammonia reaches its destination, it can be converted back into hydrogen by ammonia cracking, a technology which thyssenkrupp Uhde can also provide. This offers an alternative to fossil-based hydrogen and enables sustainable value chains for many chemicals. Even more efficient is the direct use of green ammonia, for example in gas turbines to generate power. This is already being tested in co-firing, and full ammonia turbines are also being developed.

One final point: To make the transport itself sustainable, more and more shipping companies are interested in using green ammonia as a marine fuel. With the exclusive use of green ammonia, the only emissions are nitrogen (the climate-neutral main component of our atmosphere) and water, with no emission of sulfur, soot, fine particulate matter, or C0₂. Ammonia is therefore an excellent way to transport green energy and hydrogen to where it is needed. Technologies are already being developed and applied.

About thyssenkrupp Uhde

• Joint development of environmentally friendly solution

• Low-emission calcination process enables CO₂ capture in limestone

thyssenkrupp Uhde has signed a master agreement with Ma’aden (Saudi Arabian Mining Company) for the development, engineering and licensing of a calcination plant for phosphogypsum processing. The purpose of the proposed plant, to be located at Ma’aden’s Ras al Khair site in Saudi Arabia, will be to recycle phosphogypsum and enable the capture of CO₂ emissions. The joint research and development will be carried out together with thyssenkrupp Polysius and Metso Outotec.

Hassan Al-Ali, Executive Vice President, Ma’aden Phosphate: “We look forward to working with our partners to develop this unique solution, utilizing our new patented technology to reduce carbon emissions and recycle phosphogypsum into a useful resource. With this ambitious project, we will contribute significantly to the Saudi Green Initiative and create lasting impact in line with our Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”

“We are honored to be chosen by our esteemed customer to provide our technology and expertise,” said Lucretia Löscher, COO thyssenkrupp Uhde. “We are providing the innovative process to turn the phosphate industry into a circular economy. This project will be another important milestone for thyssenkrupp Uhde in enabling the green transformation of our customers.”

Currently, significant amounts of phosphogypsum are produced as a by-product of phosphoric acid production, which is essential for producing phosphate fertilizers. The options for using phosphogypsum directly are very limited due to impurities and the general properties of this material. The innovative phosphogypsum treatment process will have three major benefits: First, it converts phosphogypsum into quicklime (calcium oxide, CaO). By using alternative fuels such as hydrogen or sulfur, this calcination step is low in CO₂ emissions. Additional know-how for this process is provided by thyssenkrupp Polysius, a full range-supplier of the cement and lime industry. Secondly, it enables the recovery of sulphuric acid, which can be recycled and reused as feedstock for phosphoric acid production. And thirdly, the quicklime binds CO₂ through a carbonization process to form limestone. The limestone can then be used, for example, in the construction industry or for cement production.

About Ma’aden
Ma’aden is the largest multi-commodity mining and metals company in the Middle East and among the fastest-growing mining companies in the world, with revenues of SAR 40.3 billion (US$ 10.7 billion) in 2022. We are developing the mining industry into the third pillar of Saudi economy in line with Vision 2030 and aim to be a role model in responsible and sustainable operations.

We operate 17 mines and sites, have 6,500+ direct employees and export products to over 30 countries. We are embarking on massive growth over the next 18 years across phosphate, aluminum, gold, copper and new minerals – to leverage the Kingdom’s estimated US$ 1.3 trillion mineral endowment and international opportunities.

• First large-scale biopolymer plant with Uhde Inventa-Fischer technology in the MENA region

• Fully integrated process for production of polylactic acid from 100% renewable feedstock

thyssenkrupp Uhde has secured a Basic Engineering Package (BEP) and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) package for the establishment of a biopolymer plant on the Arabian Peninsula. The plant is intended to produce an industrial large-scale volume of polylactic acid (PLA) polymer, utilizing lactic acid from corn as the primary feedstock. While polymer specialist Uhde Inventa-Fischer will perform the BEP for the PLA production based on its proprietary state-of-the-art technology, its sister company thyssenkrupp Uhde India will perform the FEED which covers the complete production complex including associated offsite and utilities.

The design of the biopolymer plant focuses on stringently optimized feedstock utilization during all stages: from starch conversion to lactic acid production, and finally polylactic acid production. An integral aspect of this project is the plant's ability to sustainably produce a range of PLA grades, addressing the diverse requirements of various industries such as packaging, textiles, and hygiene supplies.

"Replacing fossil feedstocks with renewable ones can minimize the ecological impact of entire value chains," stated Dr. Cord Landsmann, CEO thyssenkrupp Uhde. "This project is another proof that we can significantly contribute to a more sustainable production of much-needed materials for global key industries."

Harald Kroll, CEO Gulf Biopolymers Industries: “We are proud to announce the establishment of the first large biopolymer plant in the MENA region. This project is a milestone for the reduction of fossil-based plastics, and advancing the adoption of environmentally friendly PLA polymers.”

Derived from lactic acid, PLA stands out as a genuine biopolymer. It is produced from renewable biomass sources, and it is also biodegradable. This positions PLA as a sustainable alternative to conventional fossil-based plastics, offering a pragmatic solution for reducing the environmental footprint associated with plastic production and consumption.

About Gulf Biopolymers Industries Ltd. (GBI)
GBI are experts in the manufacture of PLA biopolymers for the consumer packaging and textiles industries. We are champions of a green tomorrow, enabling our clients, and their customers, to switch from fossil-based plastics to our 100% renewable and 100% recyclable biodegradable polymers. Together we are actively contributing to decarbonization, advancing the circular economy, and creating a less polluted future for our planet. Further details to be announced later.