KBR has announced that its proprietary Purifier® ammonia technology has been selected for a major fertilizer development being undertaken by Pampa Energía in Argentina. The agreement marks another significant milestone for KBR in the global ammonia industry and strengthens its presence in Latin America’s growing fertilizer sector. The technology will be deployed at a new ammonia production facility that forms part of an integrated ammonia and urea complex currently planned for Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
As part of the agreement, KBR will provide a comprehensive range of services for the project. These include technology licensing, preparation of the basic engineering design package (BEDP), and the supply of proprietary equipment required for the ammonia production unit. The planned facility will have a production capacity of approximately 3,430 metric tons of ammonia per day, making it one of the largest ammonia manufacturing units in the region. Commercial operations are expected to begin by the end of 2029, following the completion of engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning activities.
The ammonia plant will serve as the core component of a larger integrated ammonia and urea manufacturing complex. Once fully operational, the complex is expected to become home to the largest single-train ammonia plant in Latin America, significantly expanding the region’s fertilizer production capabilities. The project is anticipated to strengthen Argentina’s domestic fertilizer industry while supporting agricultural productivity across Latin America through improved availability of ammonia and urea.
Bahía Blanca has been selected as the project location due to its well-established industrial infrastructure, strategic logistics, and access to export facilities. These advantages are expected to support efficient distribution of fertilizer products to both domestic and international markets. The facility is also expected to contribute to regional industrial development by generating employment opportunities during construction and long-term plant operations.
KBR highlighted that its Purifier® technology has earned a strong reputation worldwide for delivering reliable, energy-efficient, and high-yield ammonia production. The technology is designed to optimize plant performance by reducing energy consumption while maintaining consistent production efficiency. These characteristics have made it a preferred solution for ammonia producers seeking cost-effective and sustainable manufacturing processes.
Commenting on the collaboration, Jay Ibrahim, President of KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions, expressed enthusiasm about partnering with Pampa Energía, one of Argentina’s leading energy companies, along with project partners SACDE and Tecnimont. He noted that the project represents an important step toward strengthening regional fertilizer production and supporting long-term food security. Ibrahim emphasized that KBR’s advanced ammonia technologies have been widely adopted by customers around the world because of their proven operational reliability, scalability, and ability to maximize production while minimizing energy use.
The new ammonia-urea complex reflects increasing investment in fertilizer manufacturing across Latin America, where demand continues to rise alongside agricultural expansion. By increasing domestic production capacity, Argentina could reduce dependence on fertilizer imports while enhancing its competitiveness in regional and international fertilizer markets. The integrated complex is also expected to improve supply chain resilience by ensuring a more stable source of essential agricultural inputs.
KBR brings more than 75 years of experience in ammonia technology development and has supplied proprietary equipment, process technologies, and catalysts to numerous fertilizer projects across the globe. Its technologies have been implemented in a wide range of facilities, supporting efficient and sustainable ammonia production for customers operating in diverse markets. Through this latest partnership with Pampa Energía, KBR continues to expand its footprint in the global fertilizer industry while contributing to the development of modern, energy-efficient ammonia production infrastructure in Latin America.
Impact of the News
The selection of KBR’s Purifier® technology for Pampa Energía’s new ammonia-urea complex is expected to strengthen ammonia and urea production capacity in Argentina over the long term. Once operational by the end of 2029, the project will improve regional fertilizer availability, enhance supply security, and reduce dependence on imports across Latin America. However, the development is unlikely to influence global ammonia or urea prices in the near term because commercial production remains several years away. For the chemical commodities tracked by ChemAnalyst, ammonia and urea prices may experience mild downward pressure in the Latin American market after commissioning due to increased regional supply, while global pricing is expected to remain largely driven by natural gas costs, demand, and international trade dynamics.
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