PROJECT OURIA INTRODUCTION
The project is at a mature development planning stage for the design, construction, & commissioning of a small-scale (1st in Africa) Urea modular plant to be located in the Southwest or Southeast region of Nigeria; based on a “ex-factory business model” Product offtake will be collected at the factory gate by committed Urea product off-taker(s) for use in the manufacture /blending of NPK fertilizers) or by wholesalers for sale and distribution to farmers. The urea plant will have a nameplate daily production capacity of 100 MTPD (metric tons per day) and planned annual Urea production of 35,000 metric tons (to be packaged in the widely popular 50kg sacks).
Dry feedstock natural gas with favourable gas composition has been secured in principle (subject to the conclusion of ongoing price and due diligence negotiations) and gas volume availability has been confirmed at 3.0 mmscf/day. The project will be funded via a structured finance facility (equity & debt) to be arranged by the anchor investors. All production is destined for domestic use and the entire annual production is already taken by committed offtakers. The project’s Original Equipment Manufacturer/Technical partner has more than 20 decades of cross-functional experience in design, technology, EPC, project management, strategic planning, marketing, plant operations and maintenance with significant on-the-ground exposure and experience in developing and operating multiple large-scale urea and ammonia plants across Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
UREA PRODUCTION PROCESS
The technology used to produce Ammonia is based on Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) using natural gas as feed stock. Natural gas is compressed and treated to remove hydrocarbon liquids, water, and acid gases. Hydro-desulfurization process is used to remove sulphur prior to the reforming process. Urea is produced, on an industrial scale, through the reaction between ammonia and carbon dioxide under high pressure and temperature conditions. The technology is mature and widely used around the world. Urea is produced by synthesis from liquid ammonia and gaseous carbon dioxide.
SOCIAL BENEFITS
When fertilizers are applied to plants and/or soils they improve soil fertility, plant vigor, produce quality and yield for crops that provide a good source of income for smallholder farming families.
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Fertilizers will support farmers in making profitable changes to farming habits. Smallholders and large-scale farm holdings can reduce costs per unit of production and increase the margin of return over total cost by increasing rates of application of fertilizer on principal cash and feed crops. Further economic benefits are increased employment in our designated project areas, trickle down-effect to small businesses (food sellers, transporters, fertilizer sack manufactures, etc.) supporting the plant, and an increased taxable base for State Governments.
GENDER EQUALITY & SOCIAL INCLUSION
According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, women account for 75 percent of the farming population in Nigeria, working as farm managers, and suppliers of labour. By producing and making available a high-quality product (slow-release urea fertilizer), Project Ouria aims to make it easier for all farmers to produce high yields and improve soil fertility.