Koch Nitrogen Co. plans a series of projects at its Enid, Okla., plant to meet increasing urea demand from its fertilizer customers. The initial project, expected to commence later this year, will allow the plant to manufacture at least an additional 125,000 st of urea per year in 2008.
“We plan a significant change in our Enid production capacity within the next year,” said Roger Morris, plant manager. “This multi-million dollar project is the first of what we expect will be several improvements for this plant to allow us to better serve customers and improve our ability to create value long term.” Koch declined to name a ballpark figure.
Koch says the project is a result of growing demand for urea, as well as a need to improve the plant’s ability to load rail cars. Improvements include replacing equipment and re-configuring the plant’s current ammonia output to be further processed into urea. Fertilizer supply from the plant will not be reduced during the construction period.
“We’ve worked hard since 2003 when we bought this plant to position it for long-term success,” Morris said. “This plant is ideally located to meet the growing fertilizer need for area farmers. We want to continue seeking ways to better serve those markets.”
Construction is expected to attract as many as 300 contract workers to the area during the building of the projects. There are no plans to hire additional employees as a result of the plant changes.
Koch put current urea capacity at Enid at 350,000 st. Enid ammonia capacity stands at just over 1 million st/y, according to the International Fertilizer Development Center, with UAN at 102,000 st/y.