Integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) into the supply chain of ammonia: Case study of Africa

Ammonia is a cornerstone of global agricultural productivity, yet its traditional production and distribution systems remain highly centralised, carbon-intensive, and often inaccessible in under-resourced regions. An integration of ESG factors into a decentralised ammonia supply chain model, using A...

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Main Authors: Nam Nghiep Tran, Lucy Kate Penna, Isla May Heath, Muhammad Yousaf Arshad, Marc Escribà Gelonch, Jose Luis Osorio Tejada, Mohammad Mohsen Sarafraz, John Suberu, Martin Fregene, Bernard Rolfe, Volker Hessel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Sustainable Futures
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825004587
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Summary:Ammonia is a cornerstone of global agricultural productivity, yet its traditional production and distribution systems remain highly centralised, carbon-intensive, and often inaccessible in under-resourced regions. An integration of ESG factors into a decentralised ammonia supply chain model, using Africa as a case study to highlight broader global relevance and overcoming a research gap in financial engineering and business strategies. The research investigates the feasibility of deploying small-scale, locally distributed production facilities as an alternative to conventional large-scale models, particularly in regions facing high transport costs and limited infrastructure. Innovative, low-emission technologies, such as high thermal plasma, mini-Haber-Bosch systems and others are evaluated for their techno-economic potential, including the application of environmental credits and future carbon tax scenarios. A comprehensive supply chain simulation demonstrates that decentralised ammonia production can achieve competitive costs of USD 232 per tonne when ESG-aligned strategies are applied. Beyond cost-efficiency, the study offers a strategic framework to operationalise ESG integration in global fertiliser supply chains, with implications for climate resilience, local economic development, and long-term food security in emerging markets.
ISSN:2666-1888