Grande Paroisse, the Elf Atochem subsidiary specialising in fertilisers and related industrial products, has announced plans to extend ammonia, urea and nitric acid capacities at its Toulouse site. Ammonia and urea capacities, currently amounting to 320,000 tonne/year, will each be increased by around 50,000 tonne/year.

This extension project will be carried out using the know-how and expertise of Grande Paroisse personnel, at a cost of some FFr 160 m, and will become operational in the second half of the year 2000.

Grande Paroisse’s Toulouse site benefits from fully integrated nitrogen operations (ammonia/urea/nitric acid/ammonium nitrates) as well as considerable downstream integration with Elf Atochem’s urea derivatives plants (melamine, glues, chlorocyanurics).

The additional nitric acid capacities will supply the nearby SNPE facilities, and therefore boost SNPE’s development in its fine chemicals markets.

· Grande Paroisse uses its own ammonia production for the manufacture of urea, nitric acid and ammonium nitrate.

· With main outlets in agricultural applications, urea is also used for the production of melamine, urea formaldehyde glues and cyanuric acid, as well as a variety of industrial outlets, e.g. animal feed. The additional capacities will assist the development of Elf Atochem’s derivatives in this sector.

· Nitric acid is used for the production of ammonium nitrates as well as SNPE’s fine chemicals.

This investment will enable Grande Paroisse to improve the overall energy-efficiency of its Toulouse site, whilst raising the competitiveness of all its productions, and fulfilling its customers’s increasing needs.

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Grande Paroisse, leading supplier of fertilisers in France, and third in Europe, operates a further five production sites (Rouen, Grandpuits, Mazingarbe, Oissel and Waziers).

SNPE’s civil activities are currently enjoying strong growth, particularly in fine chemicals for the pharmaceuticals and plant protection markets.