The high natural gas prices could also affect diesel drivers. The first chemical plants have now reduced the production of ammonia – the raw material for the exhaust gas cleaning agent Adblue. Many modern cars and trucks can no longer be operated without this urea solution.
BASF and SKW cut production
Chemical giant BASF cut back ammonia production at its Ludwigshafen and Antwerp sites at the end of September. In mid-October, the SKW nitrogen works in Piesteritz, Germany’s largest producer, also sounded the alarm. The reason is the same in both cases: high natural gas prices would make production uneconomical. The methane in natural gas is one of the raw materials for the production of ammonia (NH3), which is used in a variety of ways in the chemical industry, not least for the production of fertilizers. In addition, ammonia is the most important raw material for the production of urea, which in turn is the main component in Adblue.
AdBlue prices are already rising in Italy
In Italy, the ammonia bottleneck has already reached the next level. The largest Adblue plant in the country has just announced a four-week break in production, according to “Corriere della Sera”. At the same time, prices were increased. In Germany, among others, the Mineralöl-Wirtschaftsverband (MWV) is observing events with “increased attention”, but does not yet see any concrete cause for concern. So far, no bottleneck has been seen at the petrol stations. In the medium term, too, the warehouses should still be well filled.
The urea solution Adblue is used in diesel cars and trucks with a so-called SCR catalytic converter for exhaust gas cleaning. The liquid is injected into the exhaust system to render nitrogen oxides harmless. Most cars use around one to two liters of the solution over a distance of 1,000 kilometers. If the on-board supply is exhausted, it must be refilled quickly at the petrol station or in the workshop. Otherwise the vehicle will no longer start or the engine will switch to limp home mode. This is to prevent the vehicles from emitting more nitrogen oxides than permitted in everyday life due to the carelessness or frugality of the user. Adblue has no direct influence on the service life of the engine or the mechanical functioning. The costs per liter are between around 70 cents and just under 4 euros, depending on the size of the container.
Not only cars and trucks affected
A shortage of Adblue would affect numerous drivers of newer diesel cars complying with the Euro 5 and, above all, Euro 6 emission standards. An SCR catalytic converter with Adblue injection has been mandatory for trucks complying with the Euro V and VI standards since 2008, and numerous construction machines and ships also require urea for exhaust gas cleaning. (Text: hh / sp-x, tv | Image: Daimler)