Suiso Company is set to invest $1.7 billion in constructing South Africa’s coal-to-fertilizer plant in Mpumalanga. The company, founded in 2019 by local entrepreneurs, specializes in blue ammonia production. Once completed, the project promises to create 4,000 jobs during construction, with construction expected to start in 2026. Moreover, expected to be fully operational by 2029, the project promises 981 permanent positions once implemented.
The coal-to-fertilizer plant will produce 1.5 million tons of nitrogen-based fertilizers annually. It will also produce 234,000 tons of clean, zero-sulphur blue methanol annually. The coal-to-fertilizer plant aligns with South Africa’s pending Fuel Act of 2027 as it seeks to replace South Africa’s import of 1.2 million tons of urea fertilizers. This will save South Africa’s foreign exchange and shield the agricultural sector from volatile global supply chains. Moreover, once the facility is operational, decarbonization and carbon capture technologies from the plant will enhance sustainability. It is also expected to boost crop yields by up to 5%.
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Contractors Involved in South Africa’s Coal-to-Fertilizer Plant
South Africa’s coal-to-fertilizer plant seeks to bring on board various local and international-based companies. These include global leaders such as Sinopec Ningbo Engineering, Stamicarbon and ETG. These partnerships emphasize Suiso’s commitment to ensure excellence and community upliftment through this project. Suiso founder, Paul Erskine noted that the project is more than implementing a fertilizer plant. “It is a commitment to South Africa’s economic empowerment, food security, and sustainable development,” he noted. Erskine also noted that with global partnerships, innovative technologies and a focus on community uplifment aim to revolutionize the nation’s economic landscape. Moreover, it seeks to address the agricultural landscape of the sub-continent. By addressing Sub-Saharan Africa’s urgent food security challenges, Suiso’s facility will play a pivotal role in nourishing crops and supporting the UN’s goal of increasing global food production by 60% by 2050.
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