KBR Wins Tech Contract for Blue Ammonia Plant in US

Engineering group KBR has been awarded a technology contract by Italy’s Maire Tecnimont for a new hydrogen-based, blue ammonia facility in Beaumont, Texas.

The contract for the 1.1 million tonne-per-year project includes the supply of the technology licence, basic engineering design, proprietary equipment and catalyst.

The facility is being built by Dutch fertilizer and chemical maker OCI NV.

Blue ammonia is made from hydrogen derived from natural gas feedstock, with the CO2 by-product captured and stored. Green hydrogen meanwhile is produced from hydrogen that comes from water electrolysis powered by renewable energy.

According to KBR, the Beaumont facility will be designed to transition from blue to green ammonia production as green hydrogen becomes available on a larger scale in the future.

“We are excited to continue to build on our strong relationship with OCI NV and Maire Tecnimont to deliver our market-leading and proven ammonia technology for this energy transition project,” said Doug Kelly, president of technology at KBR.

“This award is a further testament to KBR’s leadership in helping its clients implement effective decarbonization technologies today on a path to achieving their future ESG objectives.”

According to OCI, the Beaumont project’s strategic location will enable it to serve the US market and export clean ammonia as a hydrogen carrier to hydrogen deficit markets worldwide, including Europe and Asia.

The blue ammonia will be delivered to customers using zero-carbon, ammonia-fuelled engine ships. Production at the facility is slated to start in the first quarter of 2025.

KBR, which has licenced and designed more than 250 grassroots ammonia plants since 1944, is a member of the Breakbulk Global Shipper Network, a worldwide network of shippers involved in the engineering, manufacturing and production of project cargo.

Click here to find out more about the BGSN.

PHOTO: Três Lagoas natural gas-fed ammonia plant, Brazil CREDIT: KBR