Abstract
The need for fertilizers to maintain food production is growing as the world's population rises. NPK fertilizer is essential to agriculture since it contains vital nutrients for crops. Despite competition, the estimated 32,825 t/y plant capacity in the Philippines will account for 50% of the market. This capability is predicated on market trends, import-export information, and national consumption. The nitrophosphate route is widely used for NPK fertilizer production, with nitric acid synthesized via the Ostwald process due to its cost efficiency, power consumption, and high HNO3 yield. A pilot plant will be established in the Philippines to validate process efficiency, optimize operating conditions, and assess environmental impacts before full-scale implementation. The Light Industrial Science Park in Sto. Tomas, Batangas was selected as the plant site based on factors such as land cost, electricity rates, water supply, labor availability, and proximity to raw materials and markets. This project supports key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2: Zero Hunger, by enhancing agricultural productivity, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, through industrial development, and SDG 13: Climate Action, by optimizing waste management and emissions control. At full working capacity, the predicted yearly net profit is PHP 1,056 million, with a total capital investment of PHP 5,401,273,364. The project's economic viability is confirmed by the internal rate of return (IRR), which is 26% and higher than the cost of capital of 15.33%. About 4.99 y is the estimated payback period. This study proposes a financially sound and scalable NPK fertilizer plant design via the nitrophosphate route, with an initial pilot implementation in the Philippines to validate technical performance and support long-term agricultural and economic development.
