Simplot to proceed with new ammonia plant
The J. R. Simplot Company is beginning construction on an ammonia plant being built adjacent to its existing phosphate fertilizer complex in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
This new plant will supply both the Rock Springs, Wyo. and Pocatello, Idaho phosphate fertilizer production locations while having the capacity to meet the company’s next phase of anticipated phosphate expansion plans at Rock Springs. Construction activities for the new plant have begun with mechanical completion scheduled for late 2016.
“Output from the new ammonia plant will significantly enhance our long term sustainability in the phosphate marketplace,” said Bill Whitacre, president and CEO of the J. R. Simplot Company. “This capital investment is a big step for us; one that is key to our future in ensuring long-term, low cost raw materials to our facilities.”
Simplot’s investment in the project is one of the largest in company history and a further commitment to the Rock Springs facility and to the Vernal Mine in northeastern Utah (which is the source of the phosphate ore for the Rock Springs plant). The new plant will produce 600 tons per day of ammonia and will benefit from synergies created within the overall phosphate complex allowing it to meet efficiency targets similar to today’s largest-scale ammonia plants.
This investment will create approximately 25 permanent positions at the Rock Springs location along with more than 400 construction jobs through the building process. The new plant will take approximately two years to complete.
“After completion of this plant, we will be self-sufficient on ammonia, which is a key raw material in the production of fertilizer,” said Klaas Hutter, vice president of Mining and Manufacturing for Simplot’s AgriBusiness group. “Our process improvements will increase our efficiencies, therefore reducing our production costs as we continue to grow our commitment to the phosphate business.”
Linde Engineering North America, based in Blue Bell, Penn., is the technology provider and primary engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for this project. This is Linde’s third ammonia project in the last two years, based upon their unique, proprietary process.
“This is Linde’s first North American implementation of our ammonia process, and we are pleased to work with the J.R. Simplot Company to bring this global vision to fruition here in the United States,” said Ken Lamb, Director of Linde’s Hydrogen & Syngas Business Unit for North America.