Haifa Group taps KBR for expansion of 2 nitric acid plant in Israel

• KBR’s wholly-owned subsidiary Weatherly has been contracted to use its expertise in nitric acid technology to expand the Haifa process plants

• They were reportedly designed by KBR Weatherly itself, and commissioned in 1987 and 1999

Israel-based Haifa Group has awarded a contract to US-based engineering firm KBR to expand two nitric acid plants in the Middle-Eastern country, said local reports on Thursday, July 22.

KBR’s wholly-owned subsidiary Weatherly has been contracted to use its expertise in nitric acid technology to expand the Haifa process plants at Mishor Rotem in Israel, said the local reports.

They were reportedly designed by KBR Weatherly itself, and commissioned in 1987 and 1999.

Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide license, basic engineering design and proprietary equipment for both plants, said the reports.

These changes are expected bring about a capacity increase of approximately 35% at each plant, said the reports.

KBR explained this in more technical terms in a statement, saying that it was expected to “design, supply and commission a complete system for the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides, with additional catalyst beds for N₂O and NH₃ slip abatement.”

It added: “The SCR system will be integrated into two existing Nitric Acid plants of 240 million tons per day or mtpd and 147 mtpd capacity that Haifa operates in Israel.”

The local reports quoted Haifa Group CEO Motti Levin as saying about this contract: “The two nitric acid plants are integral to our expansion plan to double our production capacity in the coming years.”

He said about the expansion: “It will contribute to an increase in agricultural yields while helping maintain an ecological balance.”

KBR President (Technology) Doug Kelly was quoted by the reports as saying: “KBR has the industry’s leading design for energy-efficient nitric acid production in both mono-pressure and dual-pressure plants, and we look forward to working with Haifa to deliver higher production capacities while lowering plant emissions and operating expenses.”