September 16, 2008

Sorfert Algeria will use Stamicarbon's proprietary urea synthesis process for establishing a plant at Arzew, Algeria. Based on EP delivered by Uhde GmbH, OCI Algeria will perform all onshore works.

The world-scale single line urea plant will be built alongside two Uhde-design ammonia plants, with ammonia and urea capacities being 0.77 million ton (for each plant) and 1.1 million ton respectively. One ammonia plant and the urea plant are due for commissioning end of 2010, with the second ammonia plant following half a year later.

The synthesis section of the urea plant will be built using Urea2000plus™ technology, featuring a Pool Condenser, and Safurex®, a patented stainless steel specifically developed for the use in the high pressure synthesis sections of a urea plant and very resistant against corrosion. Both developments have won wide acclaim for the many cost and operational advantages and which have justifiably become Stamicarbon's design standard.

Stamicarbon is delighted to come back to Algeria, where it has earlier seen plants built with its license for Sonatrach in the 1970's. It takes pride in again taking part in a project involving Algeria's major GDP-contributing company, and for that in consolidating its strong position in the very area in the world where most of tomorrow's fertilizer plants will be built: North Africa and Middle East.

1) Sorfert is a joint venture of Algerian's National Oil & Gas company Sonatrach and Egyptian company Orascom Construction Industries ("OCI").