Bismarck, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Sept 12, 2012) — At a news conference Wednesday at the State Capital in Bismarck, a major announcement was made that involves Spiritwood Energy Park Association, industrial park, become the site of a $1.2 billion nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing plant.

The plant will be operated by CHS, the Farmers Union member owned cooperative. The plant will take natural gas and produce anhydrous ammonia, urea, and liquid fertilizer. The materials will be distributed by CHS.

The next step in the process is to obtain a preliminary engineering and design study.

If all goes according to plans the plant would be on line in 2016.

It’s expected the plant will employ 100-150 workers at the site at Spiritwood.

Financing for the project is expected to come from multiple sources, including owner equity in CHS, and and hopefully other equity sources.

The plant will be co-located with Great River Energy’s power and coal plant, which produces steam.

On hand from Jamestown at the major announcement were: Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen,

Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation, CEO Connie Ova, along with Stutsman County Commissioners, Mark Klose, and Dennis Ova.

　

Statement From JSDC

This is a momentous day for the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation Board of Directors, Stutsman County Commission, Jamestown City Council and especially for the 22,000 + taxpaying citizens of Stutsman County.

We are overwhelmed with the magnitude of this project and excited about the economic impact to the area. Agriculture is and always will be the number 1 economic driver in Stutsman County and the benefits back to the farming community are substantial. The impact of the construction jobs and finally the full time excellent careers that these project providers will bring years of possibilities to the state, region, county and local communities.

Thank you to Great River Energy for being the best partner a community could dream of. Thank you to Cenex Harvest States and North Dakota Farmers Union for choosing the Spiritwood Energy Park location. Thank you to ND Department of Commerce and most of all to Governor Dalrymple for clearing the path for this opportunity to happen in North Dakota.

Again, from the JSDC Board of Directors, thank you and we look forward to decades of opportunity and economic growth with this project.

 

News Release From Gov. Dalrymple’s Office

BISMARCK, N.D. (KCSi-T.V News Sept 12, 2012) — Gov. Jack Dalrymple and leaders of CHS Inc., the nation’s largest farmer-owned cooperative, Wednesday announced that the company is taking steps toward constructing a nitrogen fertilizer plant in North Dakota at a cost of more than $1 billion.

The plant would convert natural gas into fertilizers, providing the region’s farmers with enhanced supplies of nutrients essential to raising corn and other crops.

CHS has selected a 200-acre site for the fertilizer plant near Spiritwood, North Dakota.

Following further due diligence, necessary approvals and a successful engineering study, CHS would move forward on construction.

CHS is conducting a preliminary engineering and design study to determine the feasibility of construction plans for the project, which is expected to cost between $1.1 billion and $1.4 billion.

CHS is investing $10 million in the first phase of the feasibility study.

Governor Dalrymple said, “This project is great news for our farmers and for the entire state of North Dakota. The CHS fertilizer plant will provide our farmers with a reliable, long-term supply of locally produced fertilizers in place of imports from foreign countries. At the same time, the plant will create more North Dakota jobs and utilize locally produced natural gas. We will continue working to add value to our energy resources and to develop more agricultural inputs for North Dakota farmers.”

Gov. Dalrymple and CHS President and CEO Carl Casale announced plans to build the fertilizer plant during a news conference held at the state capital in Bismarck.

They were joined by Woody Barth, president of the North Dakota Farmers Union which has helped facilitate the project.

Casale said, “By pursuing this project, CHS would be making a significant, strategic investment that ensures consistent, domestic nitrogen fertilizer supply for our farmer-owners. Today CHS imports fertilizer products from 19 countries. Developing additional domestic crop nutrients sources closer to our customers is critical to meeting demand, improving our logistical and distribution expertise, and adding value for the farmers who count on us.”

Barth said, “The ability to deliver a reliable supply of fertilizer products in North Dakota and the region is a win-win for family farmers and our farmer-owned cooperative system. We are pleased that our organization’s initial market analysis and feasibility study for building a plant of this scope has allowed us to work closely with CHS, leading to today’s announcement.”

Preliminary plans call for building a plant that will produce 2,200 tons of ammonia fertilizer daily.

It will be distributed as anhydrous ammonia, urea and UAN liquid fertilizer to farm supply retailers and farmers in the Dakotas and parts of Minnesota, Montana and Canada.

The proposed plant will take advantage of abundant regional natural gas feedstock. It will employ between 100 and 150 people, with a tentative start-up in the second half of 2016.

Casale said CHS is in discussions with Great River Energy and the Jamestown Stutsman Development Corporation (JSDC), which together own the Spiritwood property, to formalize project agreements related to the land and services to be provided by Great River Energy and JSDC.

CHS will continue working with Gov. Dalrymple’s office, the North Dakota Department of Commerce, JSDC, Jamestown city officials, Stutsman County, North Dakota Farmers Union and Great River Energy to move the project forward.

In addition, CHS has contracted with the engineering firms of CH2M Hill of Houston, Texas, and Kadmas, Lee and Jackson of Bismarck for on-site planning and related business and construction details.

CHS Inc. (www.chsinc.com) is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States.

Diversified in energy, grains and foods, CHS is committed to helping its customers, farmer-owners and other stakeholders grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations. CHS, a Fortune 100 company, supplies energy, crop nutrients, grain marketing services, livestock feed, food and food ingredients, along with business solutions including insurance, financial and risk management services.

The company operates petroleum refineries/pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products.

　

About the proposed Spiritwood Nitrogen Project

• Proposed for 200-acres in the Spiritwood Energy Park, a Jamestown/Stutzman Development Corporate industrial park, located about 10 miles east of Jamestown, N.D., and site of other agricultural and energy facilities.

• CHS has selected the site and will conduct a front-end engineering and design study before finalizing construction plans. CHS is investing $10 million in this first feasibility phase.

• Following further due diligence, necessary internal and external approvals, and a successful engineering study, CHS would move forward with the construction of the plant.

• Project cost is expected to be between $1.1 billion and $1.4 billion.

• Preliminary plans call for construction of a plant which will produce 2,200 tons of ammonia daily.

• The plant would supply anhydrous ammonia, urea and UAN liquid fertilizer to farm supply retailers and farmers in the Dakotas and parts of Minnesota, Montana and Canada.

• The proposed North Dakota plant takes advantage of abundant regional natural gas feedstock.

• Energy use:   Natural Gas: 75,000-80,000 MMBTU/day

 oElectrical use: 15-20 megawatts

• Would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year around, closing only for scheduled maintenance

 • Estimated 100-150 employees

 • Tentative start up second half of 2016

 • CHS will continue working with Governor Dalrymple’s office, the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation, Jamestown city and Stutsman County officials, the North Dakota Farmers Union and Great River Energy

• Engineering firms CH2M Hill of Houston, Texas, and Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson of Valley Bismarck, N.D.,  on site planning and related business and construction details.

 

About Nitrogen fertilizer and CHS Crop Nutrients

 Crop nutrients (fertilizers) are applied to the soil to provide nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium required to raise healthy, profitable crops. Nitrogen fertilizer, in particular, is essential to modern, high yielding corn production.

 CHS sources and distributes crop nutrients to farm supply retailers and growers for soil application. CHS is recognized as a leading, global fertilizer industry company, committed to helping our farmer owners improve crop yield (bushels per acre) and profitability through:

 • A crop nutrients distribution system serving North America’s largest dealer network.

 • U.S., Asian, European and South American global origination operations sourcing product from 19 countries.

 • Global sales coordinated through CHS Europe in Geneva and supported by CHS international offices.

 • Strategic distribution assets, including a deep-water port, river, truck and rail facilities, inland crop nutrients terminals and retail locations throughout the U.S.

About CHS Inc.

CHS Inc. is the nation’s leading cooperative, owned by farmers, ranchers and co-ops across the United States. A diversified global energy, grains and foods business and a Fortune 100 company, CHS is committed to helping producers and member cooperatives grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations. CHS supplies energy, crop nutrients, grain marketing services, livestock feed, food and food ingredients, along with business solutions including insurance, financial and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries/pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products.

CHS Overview and financial highlights

 • Owned by 1,100 cooperatives, 50,000 producers (through CHS Service Centers) and 10,000 preferred stockholders.

 • More than 9,000 employees in the United States and 18 other countries.

 • Governed by 17-member board of directors consisting of farmers elected by cooperative- and producer-owners.

 • Net income for fiscal 2011 (ending August 31, 2011) of $961.4 million.

 • Net revenues for fiscal 2011 of $36.9 billion.

 • Cash returns to owners in 2012, based on fiscal 2011 earnings, are expected to total $421 million.

 • Value of preferred stock sold on NASDAQ (traded under CHSCP) more than $300 million