KENYA – Kenya Nut Company, a multi-national agricultural business based in Kenya has entered into a 15-year agreement with TalusAg, a green ammonia technology company, to install the first commercial modular green ammonia system in Naivasha, Kenya.
The project seeks to deliver carbon-free, green ammonia fertilizer with guaranteed supply at a fixed price.
In addition, the project will enable reliable fertilizer production that lowers costs, eliminates supply chain unpredictability, and reduces emissions that contribute to climate change.
The talusOne system installed at Kenya Nut Company’s Morendat farm in Naivasha, Kenya, is powered by a 2.1MW solar farm and produces approximately one tonne of green ammonia per day.
For every tonne of green ammonia produced, the unit avoids up to 8 tonnes of carbon emitted during traditional ammonia production and distribution aligning with the Country’s sustainability objectives.
“We are excited to pioneer the future of cleaner, smarter fertilizer production with our partners at TalusAg,” said Kenya Nut Company CEO Graeme Rust.
According to him, the unique technology of talusOne provides significant benefits for all farmers, reducing costs while improving product quality and reliability.
Kenya Nut Company will be using this low-cost fertilizer across its farms, vineyards, orchards, and ranches to more efficiently produce a wide variety of crops.
Talus’s on-site, zero-carbon system produces ammonia – the building block of all mineral fertilizers – using just sun, water, and air.
The company’s proprietary compressor design and software controls guarantee fertilizer when and where it’s needed, eliminating safety risks and greenhouse gas emissions attributable to lengthy and complex supply chains.
Over half of the world’s total annual fertilizer production occurs in China and Russia. This critical commodity often travels thousands of miles over land and sea, substantially increasing an already significant carbon footprint.
Both the talusOne and larger talusTen systems are optimized to run on intermittent, renewable power sources, making them a smarter, cleaner, and more reliable solution.
They reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and minimize the carbon footprint of ammonia production, which currently accounts for approximately 2 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.
In recent years, supply chain disruptions have delayed deliveries, costing farmers both time and money. Implementation of talusOne can eliminate these challenges.
This investment comes at a time when the fertilizer sector in the country has continued to get a boost.
Last month, the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM), a special AfDB fund pledged Sh304.9 million (US$2M) partial trade credit guarantee and Sh33.3 million (US$219,000) grants funding to fast-track fertilizer distribution in the country.
The funds are expected to be channeled through the Nairobi-based Apollo Agriculture Limited to support the distribution of over 7,000 tonnes of fertilizer targeting at least 100,000 smallholder farmers according to reliable sources.
In addition the sector received a boost of KES 8.25 billion (US$54M) to the fertilizer subsidy program as the head of state contibues to strive in providing affordable fertilizer to farmers in Kenya.
