Poland's Grupa Azoty says unit producing CO2 at 30% of capacity (updated)

Grupa Azoty Zaklady Azotowe Pulawy SA

26/08/2022 11:24

(Adds spokesperson's quote, background)
    GDANSK, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Polish chemical firm Grupa
Azoty's  ATTP.WA  Pulawy  ZAPP.WA  unit is producing carbon
dioxide at less than a third of nominal capacity as high natural
gas prices hit profitability, a group spokesperson told Reuters
on Friday.
    Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a byproduct of ammonia output, and
soaring gas prices are making profitable production of ammonia
and nitrogen fertilisers impossible, she said.  
    The company said on Tuesday that due to higher gas prices
Pulawy was cutting ammonia production to about 10% of capacity,
and temporarily halting output of nitrogen fertilisers and some
other products.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2ZZ0QT
    "At Grupa Azoty Pulawy 30% of nominal CO2 production volume
is being maintained," the spokesperson added in an e-mail on
Friday.
    A CO2 shortage is already putting pressure on some European
countries' food sectors. The food industry uses carbon dioxide
for, among other things, cooling products during transportation,
stunning poultry and pigs before slaughter, and putting fizz in
drinks.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N3021O6
    On Thursday Danish brewery Carlsberg's Polish unit said it
might have to stop production due to a shortage of CO2 supplies,
which could also hit the wider food industry in
Poland. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N3011N9

    <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
FACTBOX-Food industry in some parts of Europe under pressure as
CO2 runs short     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N3021O6
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
 (Reporting by Karol Badohal; Editing by Jason Neely and Jan
Harvey)
 ((karl.badohal@thomsonreuters.com; +48 58 769 65 97;))