Linde Engineering has recently finalised a significant contract for the engineering and procurement of an air separation unit and a nitrogen wash unit destined for a urea plant in Karratha, Western Australia.
This milestone venture is spearheaded by Perdaman Industries, which is investing a substantial $4.5 billion into the plant. The facility aims to convert natural gas into urea, a pivotal fertiliser widely employed in food production. Once operational, the plant will be the largest of its kind in Australia.
A 3D illustration of the site in Karratha, Western Australia, picture rights: Perdaman
The ASU, designed as a single-train system, will boast an impressive capacity of 63,000 Nm3/h of gaseous oxygen. Simultaneously, the NWU, also a single-train configuration, will achieve a remarkable capacity of 392,000 Nm3/h syngas, thereby serving as the world’s largest single-train NWU. Linde Engineering has been deeply involved in the project’s preliminary stages, having contributed solutions and expertise during the feasibility and front-end engineering design studies.
Robert Eichelmann, Senior Vice President of Linde Engineering APAC, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with Perdaman, citing their longstanding business relationship spanning over a decade. He underscored Linde’s commitment to delivering excellence in the APAC region and highlighted the project’s significance in bolstering Australia’s clean energy market by facilitating the production of low-carbon ammonia for urea manufacturing.
In a similar vein, Vikas Rambal, chairman of Perdaman, emphasised the pivotal role of this project in ensuring Australia’s food security by providing a dependable source of high-quality urea. He lauded Linde’s technical prowess and operational excellence as key factors in securing the contract.
Perdaman Industries has enlisted the expertise of two lead engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors, Clough of Western Australia and Saipem of Italy, to oversee the realisation of the urea plant. Operating in a 50/50 joint venture, both companies are spearheading the overall execution, with Linde entrusted with the ASU and NWU components.
For more information visit www.linde-engineering.com
