£3.5m Fertiliser Plant To Use Oil Residue Proposed

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29299, 2 September 1960, Page 12

£3.5m Fertiliser Plant To Use Oil Residue Proposed

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, September 1. The establishment of a nitrogenous fertiliser plant to cost approximately £3.5m is being considered by an American industrialist, Mr F. Torresi, of the Chemical and Industrial Corporation, of Cincinnati, Ohio, who recently had consultations with officers of the Department of Industries and Commerce. If such an industry is established, it would have to be close to the site of the oil refinery, which is likely to be on the Firth of Thames. By-products obtained from refining the crude petroleum would be used in the manufacture of nitrogenous fertiliser. The Chemical and Industrial Corporation which is believed to be connected with the vast Standard Oil combine has developed a number of processes using the residue after the enriched crude petroleum New Zealand will import is refined. A nitrogenous fertiliser industry could help correct any imbalance which might result from the operation of the oil refinery in New Zealand.

New Zealand uses a greater proportion of petrol and light oils in relation to the heavy oils and bitumenous products than do most other countries, and it has not yet developed the industries to absorb the residue. Some of the products of the refinery could be re-exported for sale, but this would lead to additional expense.

The production of nitrogenous fertiliser would avoid this, but it would also bring difficulties. New Zealand is not a heavy user of nitrogenous fertiliser, the need for which is offset by clover in pastures and the farming industry is based largely on the use of phosphates as a fertiliser. Some sources suggest that in the presence of commitments by New Zealand’s primary industries, the market for nitrogenous fertiliser does not exist here.

In his talks with the department Mr Torresi outlined a plan to produce 300 tons of fertiliser a day from gases from the refinery. He claimed his firm could cause a transfer of 15 per cent, a year from phosphatic to nitrogenous fertiliser. He admitted that, at present, New Zealand used only 4000 tons of nitrogenous fertiliser a year.

but claimed that present supplies of phosphate from Ocean and Nauru islands would soon be exhausted. Before this happened. New Zealand should develop alternative sources.

Earlier. Mr Torresi was in touch with the Buller Development Committee on the possibility of developing a chemical industry using West Coast coal. He said he found, however, that this project would not be economic.