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Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2019
Another notable event in 2018 was the initiation
of construction for the first fertiliser plant at
SPARK.
It was reported following its ground breaking
ceremony in August that the fertiliser plant seeks
to utilise Brunei’s abundant natural gas reserves
to further develop the country’s petrochemical
industry downstream activities.
The plant is a collaborative effort by Brunei
Fertilizer Industries (BFI) and Thyssenkrupp
Industrial Solutions AG (tkIS), a German-based
worldwide engineering and construction services
provider.
Slated for completion in 2021, the plant will be
a fully integrated with state-of-the-art fertiliser
complex capable of producing 2,200 tonnes of
ammonia and 3,900 tonnes of urea per day. It will
use part of Brunei’s large natural gas reserves
as feedstock to produce high-quality nitrogen
fertiliser targetted for the export market.
Thyssenkrupp will provide expertise in engineer-
ing, equipment supply, construction, supervision
of construction and commissioning, as well as
provide various off-site services to fully realise
the project.
“Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions is honoured
to have the opportunity to work and team up
with the people of Brunei in this endeavour. We
look forward to working over the course of three
years to fully realise this project and beyond and
will mark this occasion in both of our history
books,” tkIS (Brunei) CEO Joerg Schiemann said
at the event.
CEO of the Fertilizer and Syngas Technologies
Business Unit at tkIS, Ralf Richmann, meanwhile,
Brunei Fertilizer Industry
expressed his pride at tkIS’ collaboration with
BFI to realise the state-of-the-art fertiliser
production facility, which he noted will help
in Brunei’s drive to transform into a diversified
industrial economy.
“This fertiliser project is the start of a new era
of sustainable fertiliser production in Brunei,
which will further strengthen the country’s key
industry – oil and gas,” he said, adding that
Brunei’s position as one of the largest producers
and exporters of natural gas will help the facility
operate efficiently.
Richmann also commended Brunei for its
commitment to innovation and the country’s
efforts in continuously promoting, adopting and
implementing new technologies.
“The Brunei government is hard at work
developing new economic opportunities and
creating better employment opportunities for its
people,” he said. “Because of this, Thyssenkrupp
is pleased to partner up with Brunei in its journey
and bringing in more than 90 years of expertise
and technologies, to realise this visionary project
and provide support in accelerating the nation’s
economic growth in a sustainable way.”
“BFI and Thyssenkrupp will continue to work
closely together to achieve our common goal;
that is to ensure that this plant starts on time and
BFI becomes an important high-quality nitrogen
fertiliser exporter,” Richmann added.
The fertiliser plant will be a key component in
Brunei’s quest to unlock the full commercial
potential of its natural gas resources, helping
catalyse the creation of downstream industries
in its oil and gas sector beyond liquefied natural
gas (LNG) and methanol production, such as the
production of urea formaldehyde and melamine
from nitrogenous wastes such as ammonia and
urea.
These by-products in turn hold the potential
to create further spin-off industries such as
fibreboard, wood furniture and tableware
manufacturing.