KOCH NITROGEN TO IMPROVE FERTILIZER PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY
Dodge City plant's construction to boost efficiency & save water
DODGE CITY, Kan. – Koch Nitrogen Company will begin a construction project at its fertilizer plant here in May aimed at improving plant efficiency and reducing water consumption.
“While production will be down during the project, we will have produced and stored enough fertilizer to fulfill our commitments to customers,” said Gary LeRock, plant manager. “When construction is complete in June, we expect to improve our ability to process natural gas, our main feedstock for producing ammonia. As a result, we will increase our reliability and efficiency.”
LeRock added the project will also deliver another important benefit – reducing water used in the manufacturing process. “Koch Nitrogen Company is working to conserve natural resources and this project helps achieve that goal,” LeRock said. “Finding and implementing ways to save water will continue to be an important priority for us.”
The total project is estimated at nearly $19 million and will require about 400 employees of construction firm contractors, many from outside the Dodge City area. Joann Knight, vice president of the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corp. said, “It will have a positive impact for local suppliers and businesses with out-of-town contractors staying at area hotels, eating at restaurants and shopping in our community. We are excited about the opportunity Koch Nitrogen is providing to Dodge City.”
“This project demonstrates Koch Nitrogen's commitment to operating a quality facility, and the company should be applauded for ensuring the plant's long-term viability,” added Bob Wetmore, president of the Dodge City Chamber of Commerce and the Dodge City/ Ford County Development Corp.
Koch Nitrogen Company manufactures ammonia, UAN and carbon dioxide at the plant, which began operations in 1968. The company has 42 employees in Dodge City.
Koch Nitrogen Company and its affiliates produce, distribute and globally market nitrogen fertilizers, including anhydrous ammonia, urea, UAN, ammonia, nitric acid, urea, UAN solutions, ammonium nitrate solution, ammonium polyphosphate and ammonium thiosulfate. The company's fertilizer interests have the capability of producing about 7.5 million metric tons of nitrogen products annually.
Koch Nitrogen is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of privately held Koch Industries, Inc. (www.kochind.com), which Forbes magazine calls the world's largest privately held company. ###
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