Uralchem Leads the European Fight Against the Soil-Based Sulphur Deficiency

MOSCOW, RUSSIA, July 22, 2011 (Press-News.org) URALCHEM, OJSC, one of the world's leading fertiliser manufacturers, gears up to provide solutions to solve the global crisis in the soil-based sulphur deficit by becoming the first European fertiliser producer to join the The Sulphur Institute (TSI).

Recently the Company took part in a meeting of the Working Group of the European Committee of the Institute, which is an international non-governmental organization bringing together the largest corporations in different industrial sectors engaged in producing, buying, selling, handling, transporting, or adding value to sulphur. The Institute represents its members' interests in national regulatory bodies all over the world.

Industry experts point out the growing shortage of soil-based sulphur, which has spread over the past several decades in most of the agricultural areas of the world, limiting higher yields and fertiliser efficiency. The increase in agricultural production together with less sulphur added to soil because of the increasing proportions of high-analysis, sulphur-free fertilisers and decreasing use of traditional organic sulphur-containing manures, all cause sulphur deficiency in the soil. Formerly, industrial waste in the form of gaseous emissions used to dump a lot of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere. Today, due to the implementation of new environmental policies in industrialized countries, these emissions have been greatly reduced. As a result, the soil-based sulphur reproduction rate has returned to its natural level which is no longer sufficient for the high yields required to supply the growing demand for agricultural produce.

According to TSI estimates, the annual current soil-based sulphur deficit is about 9.6 million tons. By 2015 this deficit is projected to grow to 11.9 million tons.

This poses a new challenge for the fertiliser producers; URALCHEM is responding by expanding its line-up of sulphur-containing products and developing enhanced sulphur-containing fertilisers for the consumers in the key regions where the company has a presence, including the UK, Ireland and other European countries.

Addressing the problem of sulphur deficiency, URALCHEM works closely with TSI. The company's specialists participate in international symposia and forums dedicated to the production of sulphur-containing fertilisers. "URALCHEM joined TSI in April 2011. Participation in Working Group meetings is a logical continuation of our efforts to meet the needs of our customers," Ekaterina Shutaleva, URALCHEM's Head of Product Management Division, commented. "We are moving in the same direction, and now backed by an international group of associates, we can progress even more rapidly."

"One of our key missions is to encourage global sulphur use for industry stakeholders. Through advocacy, education and interaction with key stakeholders, we encourage global sulphur use by addressing hurdles for private industry so they can develop commercial scale sulphur-based fertiliser businesses", Catherine A. Randazzo, President and CEO of TSI, said.

TSI and its new member, URALCHEM, have already scheduled a plan of co-operative participation in various international programs, leading agrochemical conferences and exhibitions - IFA, FMB, TFI and others. URALCHEM and TSI have also discussed a joint session of the Committee to be hosted by Voskresensk Mineral Fertilisers, OJSC (URALCHEM's subsidiary) in Voskresensk, Moscow region.

URALCHEM is one of the largest producers of nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers in Russia and the CIS with production capacities of over 2.5 million tonnes of ammonium nitrate, 2.2 million tonnes of ammonia, 0.8 million tonnes of MAP and DAP, 0.8 million tonnes of complex fertilisers and 0.5 million tonnes of urea. URALCHEM is the second largest ammonium nitrate producer in the world and number one in Russia. URALCHEM's key production assets include Azot Branch of URALCHEM, OJSC in Berezniki, Perm Region; Kirovo-Chepetsk Chemical Works, OJSC in Kirovo-Chepetsk, Kirov region; Voskresensk Mineral Fertilisers, OJSC in Voskresensk, Moscow region.

Website: http://www.uralchem.com