The synthetic ammonia technology upgrade project at Shibaoshan of Hubei Sanning Chemical Co., Ltd. is currently in the trial production phase

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It was recently learned that the synthetic ammonia technology upgrade project at Shibaoshan of Hubei Sanning Chemical Co., Ltd. is in the trial production phase. In 2023, Hubei Sanning launched a project to convert ethylene glycol into ammonia, transforming the 600,000-ton ethylene glycol production facility of Shibaoshan New Materials Company into one that produces 700,000 tons of ammonia along with some hydrogen as a by-product. The project name is the capacity expansion and renovation of ammonia synthesis. In early 2024, China Five Rings Engineering Co., Ltd. completed the design for the capacity expansion project of Hubei Sanning Ammonia Synthesis Plant. In early May 2024, the 600,000-ton ethylene glycol plant was shut down for technical upgrades. At the end of August, production was shifted to synthetic ammonia. In January 2025, the Zhijiang Government Website published a notice regarding the completion inspection of various facilities related to the ammonia synthesis expansion project carried out by Hubei Sanning Chemical Co., Ltd.: the ammonia synthesis compressor building, the waste heat recovery building, and the syngas compressor building. In April 2023, the Yichang Ecology Bureau issued the first public notice regarding the public consultation process for the environmental impact assessment of the ammonia synthesis capacity expansion project carried out by Hubei Sanning Chemical Co., Ltd. at Shibaoshan. Project Name: Expansion and Renovation Project of Ammonia Synthesis Facility at Shibao Mountain, Hubei Sanning Chemical Co., Ltd.
Location: Yaojiagang Chemical Industrial Park, Zhijiang City
Company Name: Hubei Sanning Chemical Co., Ltd.
Total Project Investment: 498.55 million RMB
Project Overview and Construction Details: This project involves converting the existing 600,000-ton ethylene glycol production facility of Sanning Company’s Shibao Mountain New Materials Company into a facility capable of producing 700,000 tons of ammonia per year, with some hydrogen generated as a by-product. The new process units included in this project consist of a nitrogen production station, additional nitrogen compressors operating at pressures of (0.4–6.6 MPa) along with modifications to the nitrogen pipeline network; modifications to the CO conversion process (including the addition of a new converter gas system); modifications to the low-temperature methanol washing process (involving the addition of another converter gas washing tower and related systems); modifications to the deep cryogenic separation of CO (involving the addition of another cryogenic tank, an N2 circulation pump, and a flash vapor compressor); modifications to the PSA process (including the addition of a PSA purge gas compressor). There are also expansions to the liquid nitrogen washing unit, as well as expansions to the ammonia synthesis facility (including gas compression, a refrigeration unit for ammonia synthesis, and the ammonia synthesis process itself). Additionally, new substations will be built, along with a power generation plant that uses 3.8 MPa steam for power generation, and another power generation plant that utilizes low-pressure flash vapor for power generation. Upon completion, it will produce 700,000 tons of liquid ammonia per year. Hubei Sanning’s ammonia synthesis raw material structure adjustment project and the first-phase project for the co-production of 600,000 tons per year of ethylene glycol utilize bituminous coal as raw material to produce 400,000 tons per year of ethylene glycol and 520,000 tons per year of ammonia ； Using sulfur as raw material, 800,000 tons per year of industrial-grade sulfuric acid is produced. On December 30, 2020, the ethylene glycol project invested 10 billion yuan in by Hubei Sanning Chemical Co., Ltd. officially began trial production.