Ballance - Whangarei

Acid Plant Database August 23, 2015

Owner	Ballance Agri-Nutrients Co-operative Limited
Location	Whangarei New Zealand
Background	Formerly - New Zealand Farmers Fertiliser incorporated in 1916 - Name changed to FERNZ Corporation Limited 1982 - FERNZ acquires 65% of Nufarm Limted 1987 - FERNZ acquires balance of Nufarm Limited 2000 - Company changes name from FERNZ to Nufarm 2002 - September 23 - Orica Limited (Australia) acquires FERNZ Specialty Chemicals formerly owned by Nufarm. Orica was formerly ICI Australia. 1998 - Ballance Agri-Nutrients Co-operative Limited merger with Farmers Fertiliser (FERNZ) based at Whangarei, strengthening the Company's position in Northland
Website	www.ballance.co.nz
Plant	-
Coordinates*	35° 44' 41" S, 174° 20' 32" E
Type of Plant	Sulphur Burning
Gas Source	Elemental Sulphur
Plant Capacity	297 MTPD
SA/DA	-
Status	Shutdown and Dismantled
Year Built	1960's
Technology	-
Contractor	-
Remarks	Ballance Agri-Nutrients Acid Plant Deconstruction
Pictures	Plant Demolition
General	Ballance Agri-Nutrients Limited is one of New Zealand’s leading fertiliser specialists, with manufacturing plants located in Whangarei, Mount Maunganui and Invercargill. In addition, the company owns the ammonia-urea manufacturing plant at Kapuni in Taranaki, and Super Air, one of the country’s largest agricultural aviation companies. Ballance is a 100-percent farmer-owned co-operative, with some 18,000 shareholders throughout New Zealand. It was officially launched in 2001, the final step in a series of company amalgamations and alliances that saw regional fertiliser co-operatives come together under the umbrella of what was then Bay of Plenty Fertiliser. Today, Ballance is a truly national company, with staff located from the Far North to the Deep South. The company places a strong emphasis on delivering value to its shareholders and on the use of a scientific approach to plant nutrient management
References	-
News	2013 - Urbanisation in Northland is being blamed for the loss of about 20 jobs in fertiliser manufacturing.Ballance Agri-Nutrients says it will stop manufacturing superphosphate fertiliser and sulphuric acid at its Whangarei site.The Port Rd site will continue as Ballance's Northland distribution hub and Whangarei service centre.It will also continue doing sulphur prilling - processing sulphur into a pill-like shape.It is expected about half of the site's 38 employees will stay working at the hub.The co-operative's general manager fertiliser operations and distribution Greg Delaney says it was not a decision taken lightly but he says the loss of farms to houses and lifestyle blocks has resulted in less fertiliser use."There is less farmland in Northland as a result of urbanisation, and we have seen changes in phosphate use trends and a reduction in overall fertiliser use locally. This is a trend we don't see changing within the foreseeable future," he says."We also had a site where a significant capital investment of millions of dollars would have been required in order for the acid plant to remain compliant, safe and operational if manufacturing was to continue."Financially, this is the right decision for the business and its shareholders."The superphosphate plant started operations in 1964 under the name Northland Fertiliser.For many years it was known as Farmers Fertiliser, owned by Fernz Corporation. Ballance bought the plant in 1988.Mr Delaney says the co-operative is consulting with employees on the proposed new structure of the site and feedback has been taken on board.Affected employees will be provided with extensive support services to help them prepare for their future and to find other suitable employment, either within the Ballance group or outside of the organisation.Restructuring the team and winding down operations at the plant is expected to take place over the remainder of the calendar year.

MTPD - Metric Tonne per Day STPD - Short Ton per Day
MTPA - Metric Tonne per Annum STPA - Short Ton per Annum
SA - Single Absorption
DA - Double Absorption

* Coordinates can be used to locate plant on Google Earth


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