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Summary
The Arab Fertilizer Association (AFA) holds its 7th annual meeting in Cairo between 30 January and I February. This meeting is now firmly marked on the calendar of the global fertilizer industry, and the conference attracts delegates from around the world as the Middle fastern and North African fertilizer producers and feedstock suppliers playa Iynchpin role in world markets. The conference agenda reflects the growing significance of the Arab region's leading players on the world stage.Abstract
As they reap the benefits ofexceptionally low energy and feedstock costs, the Arab fertilizer producers are playing an ever more critical role in international markets. This is acknowledged by fertilizer buyers elsewhere in the world, and hence the growing significance of the Arab Fertilizer Association's annual meeting. The 7th International Annual Conference of the Arab Fertilizer Association (AFA) will take place III Cairo in the Hotel Semiramis Inter-Continental between 30 January and 1 February. The m\eting will bring together experts at all levels in the fertilizer industry and associated raw materials, and a widespread audience can be assured, both from within the AFA's own membership and from increasingly further afield. In last year's meeting, nearly two-thirds of the participants came from overseas, while one third of the companies participating in the meeting were from non-Arab countries. The 2001 meeting is expected to break new records for attendance: last year, over 400 delegates participated, drawn from the full spectrum of international and regional companies, institutions, research centres, shipping companies and a wide range of other organisations with an interest in the fertilizer and associated raw materials sectors.
Summary
The Arab countries of North Africa and the Middle fast enjoy abundant, low-cost hydrocarbon, phosphate rock, potash and sulphur resources. They are strategically well located to export to the developing regions ofAsia and are playing an increasingly pivotal role in global markets as new projects continue to be launched. This review assesses the unique strengths of the Arab region and how further potential is being tapped.Abstract
Today, the Arab fertilizer industry wields a pivotal role in world markets, enjoying inherent competitive advantages of abundant and lowpriced feedstocks, and a favourable geographic location that reinforces the region's ability to meet the needs of the leading fertilizer importers in Asia and Europe. The fertilizer industry and associated raw materials sector in the Arab region have developed remarkably within the past two decades and the full potential has yet to be exploited. Already, for countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Morocco, the fertilizer industry represents avital strategic sector for the utilisation of indigenous resoutces and increasing the added value of these materials. In 1998, the production of fertilizers is estimated to have contributed $8.5 billion to the economies of the Arab countries, out of an estimated total contribution of $12.9 billion by the regional chemical industry.
Summary
The Saudi economy is at a critical phase in its development. Recognising this, the Saudi authorities have taken steps to liberalise the climate for investment, encouraging increased overseas participation. Over the past two decades, Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) has played a major part in laying the foundations for Saudi Arabia's industrial diversification. With industrial development in the Kingdom about to enter an even more dynamic era, SABIC's role will be enhanced.Abstract
From its inception 25 years ago in 1976, Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABle) has played a strategic role in helping to forge the modern Saudi economy, with the quest of reducing the country's dependence on volatile oil revenues. In its chosen goal of adding value to Saudi Arabia's natural hydrocarbon resources and diversifYing the country's economic base, SABIC has positioned itself as a producer midway between the downstream and upstream sectors of the chemical market. SABle's product portfolio covers the following main industry sectors:
Summary
SABle fertilizers have made a substantial contribution to Saudi Arabia's long-term goal of reducing the country's dependence on oil exports. The Saudi fertilizer industry has developed fast to become a leading contender in international markets, and is poised to expand further.Abstract
From the outset, fertilizers were identified as an essential part ofthe SABIC product portfolio. Today, the three SABIC fertilizer subsidiaries will have the capacity to produce over 5.7 million tla of ammonia and urea, as well as NPKs, phosphates, liquid fertilizers and sulphuric acid. Marketed under the commercial brand name of SANAPIK, SABle's integrated range of fertilizers is manufactured at three affiliates located at Damman and Jubail. SABIC also has a 33.3% stake in the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Co. (GPIC) 396,000 tla ammonia and 561,000 tla urea complex at Sitra, Bahrain.
Summary
The Kyoto Protocol as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has set targets for signatory countries to reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases by at least 5% below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. This has given fresh impetus to reducing still further the emissions produced in the manufacture of fertilizers.Abstract
In common with other process industries, the production offertilizers gives rise to emissions. These include dust, mist and gases (notably NOx, 502 and CO2), as well as effluent to water. The fertilizer industry is increasingly aware that the emissions involved in the production of mineral fertilizers give off pollutants that may contribute to local and global environmental problems. Producers must therefore seek to attain the highest standards of operation and maintenance, monitoring daily plant performance against design conditions.
Since the 1960s, fertilizer producers have devoted considerable research and expenditure towards reducing emissions, and among the industry's notable successes are Norsk Hydro's achievement in cutting the emissions to the atmosphere and water ofits Norwegian plants by90%. (Mineral Fertilizer Production and the Environment, IFA, [1998]) However, certain problems persist, such as the emission ofCO2from ammonia production, which is an intrinsic part ofthe process. Tackling nitrous oxide (N20) emissions from nitric acid plants is another challenge the fertilizer industry is addressing.
Summary
Modem livestock rearing for dairy, eggs and meat production is under intense scrutiny, and, for cattle and other ruminant animals at least, grassland systems are widely seen as the more natutal. However, given the pressure on available land, grassland systems must also offer high levels of productivity to be successful, which means assisting nature with the addition ofnutrients. Nitrogen is needed to make the grass grow and ultimately to provide protein for the beast. Whether or not the fields receive phosphate fertilizer, phosphorus is provided to the diets of grazing animals, through silages, supplements and feed concentrates, to improve health, productivity and fertility. Unfortunately, grassland systems are notoriously "leaky" and there are limits on the potential to plug the leaks.Abstract
This poses a dilemma. While half the productivity in modern temperate grassland systems is due to the input of fertilizer N, studies show that the efficiency with which this nitrogen is converted into animal product is very low. The world average is only about 10% (lowest for ruminants), compared with nitrogen efficiencies ofabout 60% for crops. The rest becomes a potential environmental hazard in various forms. Meanwhile, combined P inputs into the grassland system and animals are also far in excess of the outputs measured in terms of the grass crop and the animal products delivered. Surplus P accumulates in the soil and then makes its way through drainage water into bodies of both fresh and marine waters, where it can cause eutrophication.
Summary
The massive AI Jalamid phosphate project in northern Saudi Arabia took another step forward last year following its approval by the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden). The project, which is currently being assessed for its economic feasibility, faces several major challenges, however. The deposit is located in an undeveloped part of the kingdom, far from the country's ports, with no developed transport links. This article reviews progress to date.Abstract
Al Jalamid is one of a number of discrete phosphate deposits lying in a northwest trending belt stretching across the entire northern section of the kingdom. The phosphate ore is hosted in a sedimentary sequence that extends to the north into Iraq and Syria and west into Jordan. Preliminary investigation has indicated total phosphate reserves within Saudi Arabia's borders in excess of7,000 million tonnes. AI Jalamid, the mostly easterly deposit, alone has been found to contain 216 million ronnes of proven phosphate reserves, sufficient to support a mining output of 4.3 million tla for over 50 years.
Summary
Michel Marchand* of SePA, France demonstrates how fertigation with potassium sulphate is the best choice for semi arid regions.Abstract
Fertilization is recognised as a prerequisite in modern agriculture in order to obtain high yields and quality of production. The role of potassium on yield and quality parameters is particularly well known.
How fertilizers are applied is another important aspect in plant nutrition. The development of techniques like drip irrigation and foliar spray has enabled fertilizers to be applied in new ways that complement or replace soil application.
Fertigation is the most common method used after soil application. Combining fertilization and irrigation, it is the application offertilizers through the irrigation system. Although it can be used with pivot or front boom, fertigation mainly concerns micro-irrigation.
Potassium sulphate, especially the soluble grades, can be profitably used with all of these cropping technologies.
Summary
Phosphate rock deposits of highly varying cadmium contents provide the basis for most of the phosphate fertilizer production of the world. The cadmium content of the original phosphate rock, type of processing, and any secondary processing within a specific process dictate the redistribution of this potentially hazardous element to products, by-products, and wastes and ultimately to the environment. The subsequent use of fertilizers on crops and pastures, and atmospheric deposition from other sources, can impact the levels of cadmium in various foods. Environmental levels of cadmium are influenced by both the application of cadmium-containing fertilizers and methods used to dispose of any cadmium-containing by-products and wastes. In this article*, Steven Van Kauwenbergh outlines the general natural sources of cadmium and provides an analysis of the cadmium content of phosphate rock and its distribution in fertilizer processing. The methods and potential costs of cadmium removal in fertilizer processing are also discussed.Abstract
Cadmium is widely dispersed in the rocks that comprise the earth's crust at levels generally less than 1 ppm. Among the various igneous rock types, basalts contain the highest cadmium contents (0.22 ppm). Basaltic rocks comprise most of the bedrock that floors the world's oceans.
Among the general types of sedimentary rocks, shales and pelitic rocks have relatively higher cadmium contents (up to 1.4 ppm). Shales are the most abundant sedimentary rocks. Although Turekian and Wedepohl [1961] indicate carbonates have relatively low cadmium contents (0.035 ppm), more recent data [Anonymous, 2000] indicate a wide variety of carbonates have somewhat higher cadmium contents ranging from 0.2 to over 1 ppm cadmium.
Cadmium is entiched in sulphide ore deposits, particularly in zinc sulphide ores, coal deposits, and in phosphate rock deposits. Because cadmium naturally occurs in the minerals comprising the bedrock of the earth, cadmium naturally occurs in soils. The cadmium content of soils is undoubtedly influenced by the cadmium content of the parent bedrock, and cadmium often appears to be enriched in the overlying soil. Cadmium contents of soils can be enriched in soils over zinc and lead deposits and particularly enriched in soils with a high organic content near zinc sulphide deposits. For example, in the first 0-10 cm of dark brown, immature peat near a zinc sulphide deposit, the cadmium content has been found to be as high as 409 ppm.
Summary
David Leyshon* reports on the 15th Annual Regional Phosphate Conference held at the Lakeland Center, Lakeland, Florida 19-20 October 2000Abstract
Over 450 people attended this year's Annual Regional Phosphate meeting, which brought together the major technical disciplines that carry out the production of phosphate rock, and the fertilizers derived therefrom. The sessions are sponsored by the local chapters of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME), the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) and the American Institute ofChemical Engineers (A.I.Ch.E.). The Florida Institute of Phosphate Research takes the leading role in organising and hosting the planning sessions over the course of the year prior.
The turnout for this meeting makes it, by far, the largest of any technical meeting currently being held in the phosphate industry. However, it is relatively unheralded and receives only a little attention outside Florida and virtually none from the international community. Considering the massive investment in the Florida phosphate industry, the huge size of its production facilities, and the ability ofFlorida plants to far outstrip their original design capacities, it would seem that the outside world should take a larger interest in this meeting.