The UK could once again plunge into the depths of a carbon dioxide (CO2) shortage following the announcement by CF Fertilisers UK – a subsidiary of CF Industries Holdings, Inc – that it will temporarily halt ammonia production at the Billingham Complex due to ‘market conditions.’
Despite ceasing production, the company plans to harness the site’s ammonia import capability to continue to run its ammonium nitrate (AN) and nitric acid upgrade plants.
With the UK relying on CO2 as a by-product of ammonia production, if prolonged, the closure could have a significant impact on the wider food and beverage industry.
Citing high natural gas and carbon prices, CFF UK stated that ammonia production is uneconomical, with natural gas costs at NPB more than twice as high as it was one year ago.
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