CF Industries starts up new ammonia plant

DEERFIELD - CF Industries Holdings started its new ammonia plant at the Donaldsonville, Louisiana, Nitrogen Complex.

The facility hasachieved consistent, stable operation over the capacity of approximately 3,600 tons per day. The plant has produced more than 50,000 tons of ammonia since start up.

It is the final new plant to be commissioned and started-up as part of CF's capacity expansion project at Donaldsonville. It is the largest ammonia plant by nameplate capacity in the world, sharing that distinction with three ammonia plants in Saudi Arabia.

"The start up of the new ammonia plant signals the completion of our Donaldsonville capacity expansion project," said Tony Will, president and chief executive officer, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. "With all three new plants from the expansion running consistently at or above nameplate capacities, Donaldsonville's expanded asset base and unmatched logistics capabilities are ideally positioned to serve customers in North America and around the world, while strengthening our cash generation now and into the future."

Total annual gross ammonia capacity at Donaldsonville is now 4.3 million tons, up from 3.1 million tons previously. The Donaldsonville complex has flexibility to switch production from merchant ammonia to upgraded products, so the actual mix of net ammonia and upgraded products for sale will vary based on market conditions.

With the commissioning and start up of the new ammonia plant, the Donaldsonville complex is now the largest nitrogen facility in the world.