# Achema > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Achema > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Achema.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achema > Source revision: 1356299540 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Achema** is the largest fertilizer producer in the [Baltic states](/source/Baltic_states). It is headquartered in [Jonava](/source/Jonava), central [Lithuania](/source/Lithuania). Its factory is located in the village of [Jonalaukis](/source/Jonalaukis) by Jonava, near the confluence of rivers [Neris](/source/Neris) and [Šventoji](/source/%C5%A0ventoji_(Neris)).[1] In 2011, Achema employed about 1700 workers and reached 2.2 billion Litas revenues (about 640 million Euros), net profit was 96.3 million Litas (27.9 million Euros).[3] It belongs to the business group [Achemos grupė](/source/Achemos_grup%C4%97). As of 2022, the Achema plant in Jonava was the largest natural gas consumer in Lithuania.[4] The plant is supplied via [Minsk–Kaliningrad Interconnection](/source/Minsk%E2%80%93Kaliningrad_Interconnection) link to Jonava. ## History The factory construction began in 1962 as one of the state-owned enterprises, called "Azotas".[5] It became a member of the [International Fertilizer Industry Association](/source/International_Fertilizer_Industry_Association) in 1989. In 1999, production of aluminum sulfate solution began.[6] In 2011, AB "Achema" completed the creation of a network of cogeneration power plants – a cogeneration type 47 MW gas power plant was put into operation in the autumn. ### Plant operation in the conditions of high gas price In 2021 it scaled down its operations, leaving only ammonia production, due to gas price spike.[7] The production was suspended in September 2022, due to high costs for natural gas, which was announced to be a temporary measure in August 2022.[8] It was resumed in early November, but halted again in December, with plans to resume operations in February.[7] In 2022 the revenue was 937.2 million euros, which was 58.8% higher than 2021, but the profit dropped by nearly a third, to 36.1 million euros. Due to sanctions related to the [Russian invasion of Ukraine](/source/Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine), the company switched natural gas suppliers from Russia to Norway, the USA, Great Britain, Poland and Germany.[2] ## Accidents Over time there have been a number of accidents. ### 1989 environmental disaster On 20 March 1989, a rupture of the [liquid ammonia](/source/Liquid_ammonia) tank occurred at the chemical fertilizer factory, causing a leakage of nearly 7,500 tonnes of ammonia ([1989 m. kovo 20 d. G/S „Azotas“ avarija](https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_m._kovo_20_d._G%2FS_%E2%80%9EAzotas%E2%80%9C_avarija)). The catastrophe further developed into a fire at the storehouses of [NPK 11-11-11](/source/Labeling_of_fertilizer) ([nitrophoska](/source/Nitrophoska): nitrogen + phosphate + kalium ) and other fertilizers polluting the atmosphere with products of their decomposition: [nitrous oxide](/source/Nitrous_oxide), [chlorine gas](/source/Chlorine_gas), etc. The toxic cloud moved towards [Ukmergė](/source/Ukmerg%C4%97), [Širvintos](/source/%C5%A0irvintos), [Kėdainiai](/source/K%C4%97dainiai). The concentration of ammonia surpassed the [permissible level](/source/Permissible_exposure_limit) 150 times in [Upninkai](/source/Upninkai), located 10 km from the enterprise. One day after the accident, a toxic cloud 7 km wide and 50 km long was recorded between Jonava and [Kėdainiai](/source/K%C4%97dainiai). Seven people died during the fire and leakage of ammonia, 29 became handicapped, and more people suffered from acute respiratory and cardiac arrest.[9][10] ## References 1. ["About"](https://www.achema.lt/apie-mus/) (Achema webpage) 1. [„Achema“ šiemet prognozuoja 1 mlrd. eurų viršijančias pajamas](https://www.alfa.lt/verslas/verslo-naujienos/achema-siemet-prognozuoja-1-mlrd-euru-virsijancias-pajamas/297239/) 1. ["The Shareholders agreed on the succeeding Achema Group CEO"](http://verslas.delfi.lt/business/paveldetojai-ir-akcininkai-sutare-achemos-grupei-vadovaus-alaurinaitis.d?id=51185889). Delfi.lt. 1. [""Amber Grid" modernizavo dvi dujų skirstymo stotis, planuose – naujų objektų rekonstrukcija"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220116124623/https://www.ambergrid.lt/lt/news/pranesimaispaudai/amber-grid-modernizavo-dvi-duju-skirstymo-stotis-planuosenauju-objektu-rekonstrukcija). Archived from [the original](https://www.ambergrid.lt/lt/news/pranesimaispaudai/amber-grid-modernizavo-dvi-duju-skirstymo-stotis-planuosenauju-objektu-rekonstrukcija) on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022. 1. ["Introduction - Achema"](http://www.achema.lt/introduction). *www.achema.lt* 1. ["Istorija - Achema"](https://www.achema.lt/istorija?page=istorija). *www.achema.lt*. Retrieved 2023-03-21. 1. ["Week in Lithuania: Fertiliser producer ceases production again. Court starts hearing in pollution case"](https://bnn-news.com/week-in-lithuania-fertiliser-producer-ceases-production-again-court-starts-hearing-in-pollution-case-241076). 17 December 2022. 1. ["Gaspreis: Litauens größter Düngemittelhersteller stoppt Produktion"](https://de.euronews.com/2022/08/25/gaspreis-litauens-grosster-dungemittelhersteller-stoppt-produktion). 25 August 2022. 1. Andersson, Bengt Orval (1991). ["An accident at a lithuanian fertilizer plant"](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/prsb.720100409). *Plant/Operations Progress*. **10** (4): 221–222. [doi:10.1002/prsb.720100409](https://doi.org/10.1002/prsb.720100409) 1. Bengt Orvar Andersson, [LITHUANIAN AMMONIA ACCIDENT, MARCH 20TH 1989](https://www.icheme.org/media/10446/xi-paper-02.pdf) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Achema](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achema) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achema?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.