LSB starting up Pryor Chemical in July

Oklahoma City-LSB Industries Inc. has announced it is starting up the old Wil Gro fertilizer plant as Pryor Chemical in July. LSB officials said they have hired approximately 60 employees so far, and will be building toward a total work force of 100 as the plant gets up and running. LSB Chairman and CEO Jack Golsen told Green Markets that there is no firm date, but start-up is expected sometime in July. He said the property was acquired from John Hancock Insurance, who repossessed it from Wil Gro, which was an independent operator several years ago. Golsen reported earlier that Pryor will produce and sell approximately 325,000 tons of UAN and approximately 35,000 tons of anhydrous ammonia annually. He estimated the total cost to activate the Pryor facility at between $15-$20 million. Golsen also disclosed that most of the workforce hired so far is made up of skilled personnel, including lab technicians, environmental specialists, safety specialists, or chemists needed to operate highly technical equipment. He expects an additional 40 employees will be hired when the plant starts up in July.