Arrange the following sequential stages involved in the natural gas-based manufacturing of nitrogenous fertilizer in Nigeria's Niger Delta industrial region, from primary raw material extraction to final market distribution.
- 1Extraction and piping of natural gas feedstock from offshore/onshore gas fields in the Niger Delta basin to the petrochemical complex.
- 2Desulfurization of natural gas followed by high-temperature steam methane reforming to yield hydrogen gas.
- 3Catalytic conversion of hydrogen and atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, followed by reaction with carbon dioxide to synthesize urea granules.
- 4Bagging of granular urea and inter-regional transport by road and rail to major agrarian belts in Northern and Central Nigeria.
Answer
The correct sequence begins with the extraction and piping of natural gas from Niger Delta gas fields, followed by steam methane reforming to yield hydrogen gas, catalytic chemical reaction to synthesize ammonia and urea granules, and concluding with bagging and inter-regional distribution to agricultural zones.
Natural gas-based fertilizer plants (such as those in Port Harcourt/Eleme) follow a strict forward industrial value chain. Upstream gas extraction in the Niger Delta provides the essential hydrocarbon feedstock. Midstream processing uses steam methane reforming to isolate hydrogen, which is chemically combined with nitrogen to synthesize ammonia and granular urea. Downstream logistics complete the cycle by transporting finished fertilizer from coastal manufacturing points to inland agricultural belts.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Industrial value chain and resource-based manufacturing in Nigeria