CF opens new US urea ammonium nitrate plant

CF Industries today announced that the new urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) plant at the company’s nitrogen complex in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was started-up in early March 2016, and has achieved consistent, stable operation. 

The plant has produced more than 80,000 tons of UAN since start-up.

This is the second new plant to be commissioned and started-up as part of CF’s major capacity expansion projects in North America. It is the largest operating single-train UAN plant in the world.

“The finish line for our Donaldsonville capacity expansion project is now in sight,” said Tony Will, CEO of CF Industries Holdings. “The new UAN and granular urea plants are running consistently at or above nameplate capacities, and the new ammonia plant is within a few weeks of being mechanically complete.”

Total annual UAN capacity at Donaldsonville is now 4.2 million product tons, up from 2.4 million tons previously. The Donaldsonville complex has flexibility to switch upgraded product production between UAN and urea products, so the actual product mix of UAN, granular urea and other urea products will vary based on market conditions.

Upon completion of the new ammonia plant, the Donaldsonville complex will be the largest nitrogen facility in the world.