Notore new plant to co-produce 1.5mmt of fertilizer, methanol
Notore Chemical Industries has made progress in talks with Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan and other international investors for the construction of a new plant at its facility in Onne, Rivers State.
The planned expansion will add a second train to Notore’s existing plant, tripling capacity from the facility, to meet its goal of becoming a net exporter of fertilizers to other countries in Africa and beyond.
According to company sources, the Train 2 plant will co-produce 1,000,000 metric tonnes (MT) of fertilizer per annum and 500,000MT of methanol.
Notore’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Onajite Okoloko, who confirmed the expansion plan, said preliminary studies have started for the construction of the second train which will be done at the company’s certified “Brownfield site”.
“Discussions are progressing with Mitsubishi and other investors while preliminary studies have started for Train 2 which will co-produce 1,000,000MTPA of fertilizer per annum and half a million metric tonnes of methanol annually at Notore’s certified Brownfield site.
Okoloko explained that Notore’s gas supply agreement with Eroton Exploration and Production Company Limited, an indigenous oil and gas producer, has given it the confidence to proceed with the second train.
“Operator of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18, Eroton sits atop a prolific oil and gas acreage with proven gas reserves of 5 trillion standard cubic feet (TCF),” he said.
He said fertilizer exports would be enhanced by the company’s ownership of 2km of waterfront, including the Notore Port and a dedicated jetty, with a current capacity to accommodate vessels with a maximum volume of 15,000MT and currently being dredged to accommodate 30,000MT vessels.