Production – Pardies, France

The Pardies plant was built in 1960. It is located near the city of Pau in southwest France near the Spanish boarder. Yara’s production site here is part of an industrial complex built near the LACQ gas field.

Production units

Pardies is a totally integrated site where three companies (Celanese, Air Liquide and Yara) share commodities and services.

The Yara site has two production units: An ammonia & CO section ( AGI) and a nitric acid/ concentrated nitric acid / Technical ammonium nitrate plant (NINA)

The Pardies plant was converted in 1992 from a fertilizer to an industrial plant. The plant delivers a wide range of chemicals in a variety of packaging.

Finished products from the Pardies plant include: 

• Carbon monoxide 

• Anhydrous ammonia

• Aqueous ammonia solution

• Weak nitric acid 

• Concentrated nitric acid 

• Technical ammonium nitrate 

• ANSOL 

• Nitogen peroxyde 

• Calcium nitrate

Sustainability

The quality system is certified according to ISO 9001. French authorities also have certified the inspection system for pressure and storage vessels.

Facts about Pardies

Key dates

• 1960 Start of production  - Company AZOLACQ 

• 1973 Urea production stopped 

• 1986 Acquisition by Norsk Hydro 

• 1992 End of the fertilizers period 

• 1997 CO Production 

Production volumes:
Ammonia 150,000 tons
Nitric acid 155,000 tons
Concentrated nitric acid 35,000 tons
Technical ammonium nitrate 130,000 tons
CO 40,000 tons

Pardies 2008