Yara, Trammo: increasing ammonia import capabilities in Europe

3 million tons per year throughput capacity

Yara has officially opened its new ammonia import terminal in Brunsbüttel, Germany. Located near the mouth of the Elbe River (and just downstream from Hamburg), Brunsbüttel is a critical (and recent) German energy import hub, with floating LNG import facilities operational there since early 2023.

The new Yara terminal – adjacent to its existing ammonia and fertiliser manufacturing plant – has enough infrastructure to handle 3 million tons of ammonia imports per year. Works were announced in January 2023 to convert Yara’s existing, export-only terminal facility at Brunsbüttel into a future ammonia import hub – and part of a wider scheme to increase capacity across two sites in Germany. Yara also has import capabilities at Rostock on the Baltic Sea, and plans to increase the 600,000 ton per year capacity when required.

As the world’s largest shipper and distributer of ammonia, Yara Clean Ammonia is in a pole position to secure low-emission ammonia supply to Germany, at competitive prices. With its leading global ammonia position, Yara can help kick-start the German hydrogen economy, laying the ground for a net zero future.

Hans Olav Raen, CEO Yara Clean Ammonia in his organisation’s official press release, 2 Oct 2024

For 50 years, we have been manufacturing products of fundamental importance to Germany and Europe here at the Brunsbüttel site. Today’s inauguration represents a new milestone and an important step towards a low-carbon future.

Sven Kohnke, Plant Nanager Yara Brunsbüttel in his organisation’s official press release, 2 Oct 2024

Converting LNG assets for ammonia imports in France

Trammo will support the redevelopment of a section of Elengy’s Fos Tonkin LNG terminal into an ammonia import terminal, including the construction of a 30,000 m³ ammonia storage tank (replacing a decommissioned LNG tank). The new terminal will be capable of receiving 200,000 tons per year, located on the Mediterranean coastline. Trammo will provide Elengy “access to the worldwide low-carbon ammonia market”, and will supply its own ammonia customers in France and Europe via the new terminal. Elengy has been operating the Fos Tonkin LNG terminal since 1972.

Trammo is thrilled to partner with Elengy in the Medhyterra project and sign this MOU. Both companies have a common interest in supporting the transition to decarbonization of the ammonia industry, and this partnership furthers Trammo’s goal of making available in the market large volumes of low-carbon ammonia by 2030.

Trammo President Christophe Savi in his organisation’s official press release, 30 Sept 2024

The redevelopment is part of Elengy’s Medhyterra project for Fos Tonkin, which is also planned to include:

• loading bays for tanker trucks and rail wagons, plus a connection to the French national rail network,
• a pipeline to supply customers in the Fos-sur-Mer industrial port zone,
• and refueling facilities for ammonia bunkering vessels.