Fertiliser giant EuroChem has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with engineering firm Maire Tecnimont and Italy’s ECA, Sace, for the construction of five ammonia-urea plants in Russia, the US and Kazakhstan over the next 10 years.

Under the agreement, Rome-headquartered Maire Tecnimont will be invited to submit proposals for the engineering, procurement and construction of the plants, while Sace will look at issuing credit insurance policies for the projects.

In Russia, the MoU covers the construction of an ammonia-urea facility in Nevinnomyssk and an ammonia plant in Kingisepp, which would include an additional project to integrate urea production. Maire Tecnimont has already completed front-end engineering design for both plants.

The companies will also co-operate on two other ammonia-urea projects: one in Louisiana, US, and the other near Zhanatas, Kazakhstan.

Overall, the new plants will provide EuroChem with an additional five million tonnes of ammonia and 7.5 million tonnes of urea capacity per annum.

Dmitry Strezhnev, EuroChem’s CEO, says: “This is another milestone in the execution of our strategy which will enable EuroChem to further solidify its position as a leading global agrochemical company. Maire Tecnimont and Sace are highly regarded and experienced companies and we look forward to working together on the development of these large-scale projects.”