Nepal Explores Green Urea Production Using Hydroelectricity and Cement Industry Byproducts
Summary
Nepal is exploring domestic production of chemical fertilizer (urea) by utilizing abundant hydropower and carbon dioxide emissions from the cement industry to reduce import dependency and carbon emissions.
Key Points
- Nepal aims to produce chemical fertilizer domestically using hydropower to generate hydrogen and CO2 emissions from cement factories.
- Hydrogen and nitrogen are combined to create ammonia, which with CO2 forms urea fertilizer that is easier to handle and apply.
- Producing urea using hydropower and carbon capture is seen as a sustainable alternative to natural gas-based fertilizer production.
- An estimated investment of 50 to 80 billion rupees is required to build a 200,000 metric ton capacity fertilizer factory integrated with a cement industry in Udayapur.
