Saipem Clough Joint Venture (SCJV) is pleased to announce a significant milestone in the development of Australia’s largest urea plant, with the arrival of the first modules on-site in Karratha, Western Australia.

The first shipment of modules, fabricated at the project’s modular fabrication facility in Chennai, India, was dispatched last month and has now reached Karratha. 

These modules are a critical component of the state-of-the-art urea plant, which will have a production capacity of 2.3 MMTPA upon completion, making it one of the largest urea plants in the world.

As part of the project scope, SCJV is fabricating and supplying more than 100 process and pipe rack modules, totalling approximately 62,000 tonnes. 

The largest module will measure 16 metres in width, 42 metres in length, and 33 metres in height, while the heaviest module will weigh an impressive 2,700Mt. 

Once assembled, these modules will form an integrated process system to manufacture urea fertilizer.

Progress on fabrication continues strong, with work already commenced on 91 modules and structural steel erection underway for 77. 

The construction timeline for each module ranges between 8 to 12 months, depending on its size and complexity. 

To date, five pipe rack (PAR) modules have been dispatched from the fabrication yard, with 108 more scheduled for delivery over the next 12 months.

The fabrication process involves a workforce of nearly 6,000 people across multiple yards, demonstrating the scale and complexity of this project.

Once completed, this facility will not only be the largest urea plant in Australia but also a key contributor to the global fertilizer market, reinforcing our commitment to delivering a sustainable future.

About the Project

Clough and Saipem in an equally shared (50/50) joint venture, are delivering the engineering, procurement of equipment and materials, construction, pre-commissioning and commissioning for Perdaman Industries' Urea Plant Project, a latest-generation fertilizer plant.

The plant will be part of a landmark project for Western Australia, generating on average 2,000 jobs during the construction phase and approximately 200 permanent jobs during the operational phase.

The joint venture and Perdaman’s commitment to make a positive impact in the community are aligned, and a key aspect during the construction phase is to engage with the Indigenous and local communities through career, training and business opportunities ensuring long lasting social benefits.