chsHeadquartersUpdate… Jamestown (CSi) The Public Information Officer for CHS, Annette Degan in an announcement on the construction of the proposed CHS nitrogen fertilizer plant, said the project is being delayed.

An announcement was anticipated in April for the project.

Degnan says, “At the current cost estimate, the project would not generate the targeted returns on capital and would not be viable.”

“CHS leaders recently met with the state of North Dakota on financial considerations to improve project returns.”

Original construction and engineering cost estimates had ranged from $1.5 billion to $2 billion.

Not released by CHS was information concerning more recent cost projections.

The new information said the delay will allow additional time to review all costs and scenarios before a final decision is made.

No timeline for that decision has been made at this time.

CHS has notified the Stutsman County Commission stopping the county’s work on purchasing road easements and bidding road improvement projects for the planned plant.

The Stutsman County Commission voted to rescind the bids for a road project in Spiritwood at the request of CHS Inc, that would improve a portion of Stutsman County Road/Highway 62 and establish a new road that would become 34th Street Southeast.

The project had an estimated cost of $8 to $16 million, depending on several options and on how the bids came in.

JSDC CEO Connie Ova adds, that’s she’s “Very optimistic that CHS will move forward. I know they have concerns about water and being over budget.”

Ova said she and CHS officials had met with engineers with the North Dakota Water Commission last week. Testing of water supplies is still ongoing.