Arkema and Nutrien announce a long-term partnership for the supply of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (AHF) to Arkema’s Calvert City, Kentucky (KY) site. The project has many advantages as it secures a competitive access to anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, the main raw material for fluorine chemistry.
Investment for AHF Production Plant
As part of this agreement, Arkema will invest US$150 million in a 40 kt/year AHF production plant at Nutrien’s site in Aurora, North Carolina. The plant is scheduled to start up in the first half of 2022. The agreement also includes the establishment of a long-term supply contract.
In line with the Group's commitments for the environment, the AHF will be produced using an element that occurs naturally in the phosphate that Nutrien uses to manufacture its products, replacing the more usual source of mined fluorspar. Nutrien will recover the fluoride from its process and convert it to AHF at its Aurora site. This innovative investment is the first of its kind in the United States, and is perfectly in line with the Group's new climate plan as it reduces overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Beyond its favorable impact on the environment, the partnership offers other important benefits. In a context of growing tensions regarding mined fluorspar and AHF supply, it aims in particular to secure the supply of AHF at a stable and competitive price, and support the constant development of new applications, notably for batteries, 5G electronics, and water treatment.
Source: Arkema