Four Danish companies – Topsoe, Alfa Laval, Copenhagen Atomics and Aalborg CSP – have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with ammonia producer Pupuk Kaltim and Pertamina New and Renewable Energy to build a $4bn facility in Bontang, Indonesia, that could produce 1mn t/y of ultra-low emission ammonia.

This would be enough to produce fertiliser for the production of food for 45mn people, approximately one sixth of the Indonesian population and save an estimated 1.7mn t/y of CO₂ emissions compared to natural gas-based fertiliser production.

But what is particularly novel is that the facility is to be powered by a proposed 1 GW nuclear power plant to be built by Denmark’s Copenhagen Atomics – comprising 25 SMRs each using thorium and molten salt technology. The modular nuclear power plant could open in 2028, and operate for 50 years, says Copenhagen Atomics.

The company is one of several racing to develop and prove SMR technology around the world.

In addition to the ammonia synthesis, Topsoe will supply its solid-oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) technology, which the company says makes the production of hydrogen cheaper and more efficient. Hydrogen is an intermediate stage in the production of ammonia.

Alfa Laval will deliver heat exchangers to optimise the energy balance of the plant, and desalination to produce ultra-pure water for the electrolysis process. Aalborg CSP will design and supply thermal energy storage systems and molten salt-based steam boilers, providing the energy balancing required to integrate energy production from the SMR modules with electricity production and waste heat from power turbines.