Sioux City-Terra Industries Inc. said last week that its Donaldsonville, La., ammonia plant is in startup mode. The plant can produce 400,000 st/y, and Terra can utilize this in place of lower-margin imported ammonia. Terra said the aggregate cost of the Donaldsonville startup was approximately $18 million, with about one-third of that being catalyst costs. The total cost was $5 million more than originally anticipated as the company elected to replace optional components to enhance reliability and efficiency. In the meantime, Terra says it is making progress on its Woodward, Okla., UAN expansion, and continues to expect a 2010 startup. Terra told analysts that it is in its strongest financial condition ever, and it continues to actively evaluate different opportunities in which it can use cash to add earnings accretive for shareholders.
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