Rentech Nitrogen Partners LP has determined that the fire that occurred Friday, Nov. 27, at the East Dubuque, Ill., facility began at the ammonia converter of the ammonia synthesis loop. The cost of repairs, which are currently underway, is anticipated to total approximately $1-2 million. The LP intends to file a claim related to the incident, under its property insurance policy, which has a deductible of $1 million. Production of all products at the facility is still anticipated to be halted for several weeks while repairs are made, however shipments of products held in inventory resumed on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Rentech Nitrogen does not expect the fire to affect the schedule for completion of repair work already underway on the foundation of one of the four syngas compressors, or the remainder of commissioning for the ammonia capacity expansion project.