At Summit, we are excited to announce that a huge multimillion dollar development is well underway to expand our capacity to store and supply liquid UAN (Urea Ammonium Nitrate). The development will add a further 50,000 tonnes of liquid UAN storage capacity.
Over the past decade there has been an ever constant increase in demand for liquid fertilizers, in particular UAN.
This growth in popularity can be largely put down to UAN’s ease of storage and handling, uniformity in application, and compatibility with a wide range of commonly used crop protection products.
What we have also seen in recent years, is that the global fertilizer market has experienced some severe supply chain disruptions, brought about by issues like the COVID pandemic and overseas geopolitical tensions.
Our most recent investment will help sure-up our ability to store UAN, and greatly improve our supply chain resilience for the future.
We are currently in the process of building two storage ponds located adjacent to the Kwinana Depot. Construction of the new facility began in July 2022.
Since then, the site has been cleared, levelled and all major excavation earthworks have been completed. The next step is liner installation and pond cover.
It is estimated that the new facility will be commissioned in August of this year and will serve to greatly expand our storage capacity.
We would like to thank the great work of our main project management and execution team, and Perth based project and engineering company, Milestone Mining Services.
Summit’s multimillion dollar investment in liquid fertilizer storage at the Kwinana depot is progressing well. The depot upgrade will expand our ability to store and supply liquid UAN (UreaAmmonium Nitrate) by adding a further 50,000 tonnes of capacity.
Summit Fertilizers Executive Manager of Engineering, Phil Hargreaves, reports key milestones
to-date have been:
- Civil works completed in March, after some particularly challenging weather conditions.
- By the end of May, the primary and secondary bottom HDPE linings from Fabtech had been installed, along with a state-of-the-art leak detection and management system.
“Work on the top covers is underway and pipe installation by Brilly to connect this storage with the Kwinana depot infrastructure
is progressing well,” Phil said.
“Electrical work has commenced and pumps and instrumentations should all be installed by late June.
“So the news for growers is good and despite some challenges the project is right on-track. We anticipate works commissioning will start in August, where hydrostatic testing and a range of other system checks will need to be completed,” he said.
Construction on the new Kwinana depot UAN liquid fertilizer storage facility reached another key milestone in late winter.
Summit Fertilizers Executive Manager Engineering and Mainten-ance, Phil Hargreaves, advised staff on August 31 that pumping of UAN across to the new storage facility had commenced.
“Hydrostatic testing and a range of other system checks meant we were able to start transferring liquid UAN over from our existing tank facility. This is another key milestone for us.
Completion of pipe work to connect the two facilities to full capacity, which allows UAN stored in the ponds to be used for dispatching, is next,” he said.
“The facility has heavy duty primary and secondary HDPE linings, UV stable top covers and a state-of-the-art leak detection system to safeguard UAN management.
Pipe work is progressing to fully interconnect the new storage facility with existing depot tanks and truck despatch. Milestone Services Managing Director/Project Manager Lee Benger (right) and Summit Fertilizers Executive Manager of Engineering, Phil Hargreaves, inspect the progress.
“Electrical work, pumps and instrumentations are now all in place which means we are well positioned for this UAN storage to be fully operational for next season” Phil said.
The Kwinana depot upgrade will expand Summit’s ability to store and supply liquid UAN (urea ammonium nitrate) by adding a further 50,000 tonnes of storage capacity.
Back in 2007, Summit officially opened the Esperance liquid fertilizer plant. At the time, the facility had 350 tonnes of liquid storage capacity and the potential to generate up to 200 tonnes of liquid fertilizer per 24-hour shift.
The investment undoubtedly benefited south-eastern growers, by offering more choice and increased competition in the marketplace.
“Over the past 17 years there has been ever-expanding demand for liquid N, in particular for UAN,” says Nick Donkin, Summit Fertilizers Esperance Area Manager – East.
“Being subject to seasonal conditions, the demand for UAN, including at the Esperance Depot can be high.
“When the season gets into full swing and decent rain falls, growers having access to UAN when they need it is absolutely critical.
“Hence, Summit’s investment in bulk UAN storage at the Kwinana Depot, with the capacity to store up 50,000 tonnes of UAN, provides us with a huge back up supply when needed,” Nick said.
