Abu Dhabi-based Fertiglobe, the largest nitrogen fertiliser producer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), expects to reach the final investment decision (FID) on two clean hydrogen and ammonia projects in the US and Egypt in 2025, according to the company’s fourth-quarter 2024 results update.
ADNOC-ExxonMobil Low-Carbon Hydrogen and Ammonia Project (US)
Fertiglobe confirmed that FID on the ADNOC-ExxonMobil low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia project in Baytown, Texas, is expected in 2025, with operations anticipated to begin in 2029.
ADNOC’s 35% equity stake in the project will be transferred to Fertiglobe at cost once the project is operational.
The project is designed to produce 1 billion cubic feet (bcf) of low-carbon hydrogen per day—removing approximately 98% of CO₂ emissions—and will have an annual production capacity of 1 million tonnes (mtpa) of low-carbon ammonia. The development remains contingent on supportive government policies and necessary regulatory approvals.
Egypt Green Hydrogen Project
FID for the Egypt Green Hydrogen project is expected in the first half of 2025, backed by demand and pricing support from H2Global.
The project will feature a 100-megawatt (MW) electrolyser facility, producing renewable hydrogen as feedstock for approximately 74,000 tonnes of renewable ammonia annually at Fertiglobe’s existing ammonia facilities in Ain Sokhna, Egypt.
Production is scheduled to commence in 2027.
UAE Low-Carbon Ammonia Projects
Construction of a 1-mtpa low-carbon ammonia facility in the UAE began in Q3 2024, with operations set to start in 2027.
A preliminary Life Cycle Assessment study estimates that Phase 1 of the plant will produce ammonia with 50% lower carbon intensity compared to conventional methods. In its second phase, the facility aims to further reduce carbon emissions through CO₂ capture and sequestration.
Fertiglobe currently holds a 30% stake in the project and will consolidate ADNOC’s share at cost upon start-up, increasing its ownership to 54%.
Additionally, a planned expansion of the plant’s capacity by another 1 mtpa is in the development and engineering phase, with Fertiglobe playing an active role until FID and potential commercial operations. ADNOC’s full equity stake in this expansion will also be transferred to Fertiglobe at cost once operational.