Linde Engineering to supply ASU and nitrogen wash unit to Karratha urea plant

Linde Engineering has announced that it has signed a contract for the engineering and procurement of an air separation unit (ASU) and a nitrogen wash unit (NWU) for a urea plant in Karratha, Western Australia.

Perdaman Industries is making an investment of $4.5 billion in the plant, which will convert natural gas into urea, a widely used fertiliser for food production. Upon completion, the plant will be the largest in Australia. The single-train ASU will have a capacity of 63,000 Nm³/h of gaseous oxygen. The single-train NWU, with a capacity of 392,000 Nm³/h syngas to supply the downstream ammonia plant, will be the world’s biggest single-train NWU.

“The new agreement builds on a business relationship with Perdaman stretching back more than a decade,” said Robert Eichelmann, Senior Vice President Linde Engineering APAC. “We are pleased that the company entrusts us with this milestone project for urea production. The project demonstrates Linde’s capabilities in APAC and supports Australia’s growing clean energy market by providing ammonia as a low-carbon feedstock for urea production.”

“This project will help to ensure that Australia has a secure and reliable source of high-quality urea and therefore food security. Linde has been awarded this significant project to deliver an air separation unit and nitrogen wash unit based on its technical expertise and operational excellence,” said Vikas Rambal, Chairman of Perdaman.

Perdaman Industries commissioned two lead engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors, Clough of Western Australia and Saipem of Italy, to implement the planned urea plant. Both companies are managing the overall realisation in a 50/50 joint venture.

Image credit: Perdaman Industries.