Pacific Green Fertilizer Corp. reported that the front-end engineering design (FEED) study for its new 625,000 mt/y green nitrogen production facility in Richland, Wash., (GM March 31, p. 1) is set to conclude by the end of the year, according to plans. The company, owned by Swiss-based Atlas Agro, is focusing production on ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer products.
Atlas Agro North America President Dan Holmes told Green Markets that the products expected to be produced include CAN-17, CAN-27, ANSol-20, and CN-9. “We are excited to support farmers in the PNW with locally produced zero-carbon fertilizers,” he said.
The company has been lining up local farmers for the green fertilizer. “Consumer goods companies and farmers are increasingly tuned into green nitrogen fertilizers being inevitable for crop nutrition,” Holmes said. “We have several dialogues ongoing.”
While not the first to sign up, Stemilt Growers of Wenatchee, Wash., a local fruit grower, has been outspoken in its support for the project, reaching out to the company as early as May 2022. Stemilt and its distributor, G.S. Long Co., have already signed firm contracts to buy.
The $1.2 billion project’s timeline is for groundbreaking in 2024, with the plant to be operational in 2026-2027.
Pacific Green inked a real estate purchase and sale agreement with the Port of Benton, a municipal corporation in Washington, on March 8. Holmes has praised the collaboration with the Port, City of Richland, and the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) in resolving logistical and operational challenges at the site, particularly with respect to lining up rail and barge access.
The plant will be the first of a series that Atlas Agro plans to build in multiple regions across the world. Atlas Agro is also planning an $850 million, 500,000 mt/y green nitrogen plant in Brazil and plans to eventually build 7-9 plants in the country (GM May 12, p. 1). It is also considering building a plant in Paraguay.
In July, Atlas Agro announced that Sydney-based financial services firm Macquarie Asset Management would invest $325 million in the company and related projects via the Macquarie GIG Energy Transition Solutions fund.
And in October, Atlas Agro was selected to begin award negotiations as part of the US Department of Energy’s (OCED) development of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub (GM Oct. 20, p. 1; Oct. 13, p. 1).