Adams Fork Energy plant to be the largest clean ammonia facility in U.S and an anchor project in ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub application
MINGO COUNTY, W.Va., April 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A multi-billion-dollar clean ammonia production facility is advancing in Mingo County, WV, with anticipated construction beginning in 2024, Adams Fork Energy, LLC, CNX Resources Corp. (NYSE: CNX), and other partners announced today.
The Adams Fork Energy clean ammonia project, jointly developed by Adams Fork Energy, LLC and the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, is expected to have initial annual ammonia production capacity of 2,160,000 metric tons, with optional additional production capacity. Project developers have entered into a strategic partnership with CNX, one of the lowest carbon intensive natural gas producers in the lowest emissions basin in the United States, to provide fuel and carbon sequestration services.
The project is expected to support 2,000 well-paying construction jobs, including pipefitters and electrical workers, as well as generate significant tax revenues and capital investment for underserved Mingo County in Southern West Virginia. The planned facility is also located on a reclaimed coal mining site near Gilbert Creek, WV, further aligning the project with the White House's Justice40 Initiative.
Adams Fork is an anchor project in the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub's (ARCH2) application to the U.S. Department of Energy. ARCH2 is a regional hub bringing together private industry, state and local government, academic and technology institutions, NGOs, and community organizations across the Northern Appalachian region including West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. The region is the ideal location for a clean hydrogen hub due to its unique access to ample low-cost natural gas feedstock, end-user demand, workforce and technology capability, and carbon sequestration potential.
"The Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continue to deliver for West Virginia. Today's announcement of plans for a clean ammonia production facility in Mingo County will help ensure the Mountain State continues to be a leader in American energy innovation and support good paying, West Virginia energy jobs. This project, planned for a reclaimed coal mining site near Gilbert Creek, honors our legacy as America's energy powerhouse while keeping an eye on the future as we work to bring an Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub to West Virginia. I applaud the cooperation it took to bring this project to Mingo County and look forward to seeing the benefits it brings to the community, economy, and our energy security," said Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV).
"Since I've been Governor, it has been my top priority to ensure Southern West Virginia has the resources to grow economically, and that is why this announcement brings me so much joy," West Virginia Governor Jim Justice said. "I'm incredibly proud that the Adams Fork Energy plant will become the largest clean ammonia facility in the country. I'm confident they will be a champion in this emerging field and help our Southern West Virginia communities flourish for decades to come. It's a testament to the great things that can be accomplished when we all work together to build a brighter future for all West Virginians, while never forgetting our hard-working coal miners and the hard work they do every day."
Adams Fork has received significant federal, state, and local bipartisan support, and is expected to displace more than 2.7 million metric tons per year of CO2 equivalent or more than 580,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven annually.
"Adams Fork Energy is a transformational manufacturing investment for Southern West Virginia," said Francis Sacr, Special Advisor to the President of Adams Fork Energy. "Thanks to leadership in Washington through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, we're excited to advance our clean ammonia production facility that will create family-sustaining local jobs while boosting available supply of clean ammonia, a critical component to sustainable food production and achieving a lower-carbon energy future."
By sourcing local low carbon intensity Appalachian natural gas as feedstock and installing carbon capture technology, Adams Fork Energy will have an ultra-low carbon intensity profile.
CNX President and CEO Nick Deiuliis said, "This project is accelerating America's lower carbon energy and manufacturing future in the heart of Appalachia. Similar to our other regional projects, CNX's unique combination of assets, innovative technologies, and proven operational expertise make us the premier energy and tech company driving the Basin's lower emission future. We're excited to work alongside these like-minded partners to advance shared goals of improving lives in local communities, generating clean, Appalachian-sourced energy, all while forging a stronger, more sustainable Appalachian region for all its citizens."
Ammonia has been identified as one of the most efficient hydrogen carriers and also results in zero carbon emissions when combusted. It is primarily used in agriculture as a fertilizer, but other applications include heating and power generation, refrigerant, water purification, and in manufacturing plastics, textiles, and pesticides.
President Anthony Reider of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe stated, "The advancement of this project benefits the tribe economically, and the use of innovative technology presents a viable source of domestic energy independence for the United States. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe is excited about this project and is confident that it will be a huge component of the clean energy economy. Our participation will present unique opportunities for federal funding for the project and the Tribe will benefit from educational opportunities afforded by the project's sponsors to our Tribal members."
With a business model covering the full value chain, progressing toward solutions to support decarbonization efforts, Haldor Topsoe will furnish clean ammonia production technology for the state-of-the-art Adams Fork facility.
Henrik Rasmussen, Managing Director, the Americas, for Haldor Topsoe Inc. said, "We are excited that TransGas has selected Topsoe's industry leading SynCOR™ clean ammonia technology for this mega scale blue ammonia plant in West Virginia. This project will be an important part of the energy transition with a CO2 capture of more than 99%. The plant will produce 6,000 Metric tons per day of decarbonized clean ammonia in the first phase."
About Adams Fork Energy
Adams Fork Energy, LLC was founded in 2010 to convert stranded American fossil fuels into useable chemicals. To that end, in 2010, Adams Fork Energy received a Minor Source Permit from the State of West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection for the conversion of 7500 tons of coal into 18,000 barrels per day of sulfur free, high-octane gasoline. Shortly thereafter, two similar permits were obtained from the State of Kentucky's Department of Environmental Protection. In 2022, Adams Fork Energy partnered with the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe to develop these projects. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe has been a leader of all Native American Tribes in helping to ensure American energy security as well as keeping our air and water clean and pristine.
About Haldor Topsoe
Haldor Topsoe, founded in 1940 and based in Lyngby, Denmark, is the world's leading licensor of Ammonia, Hydrogen, and renewable fuels technologies.
About CNX Resources
CNX Resources Corporation (NYSE: CNX) is unique. We are a premier, ultra-low carbon intensive natural gas development, production, midstream, and technology company centered in Appalachia, one of the most energy abundant regions in the world. With the benefit of a 159-year regional legacy, substantial asset base, leading core operational competencies, technology development and innovation, and astute capital allocation methodologies, we responsibly develop our resources and deploy free cash flow to create long-term per share value for our shareholders, employees, and the communities where we operate.
As of December 31, 2022, CNX had 9.81 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas reserves. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Index. Additional information is available at www.cnx.com.
Cautionary Statements
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With the exception of historical matters, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements (as defined in 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. These forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates concerning the timing and success of specific projects and our future production, revenues, income, and capital spending. When we use the words "believe," "intend," "expect," "may," "should," "anticipate," "could," "estimate," "plan," "predict," "project," "will," or their negatives, or other similar expressions, the statements which include those words are usually forward-looking statements. When we describe a strategy that involves risks or uncertainties, we are making forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release; we disclaim any obligation to update these statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies, and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Specific factors that could cause future actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements are described in detail under the captions "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and any subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Those risk factors discuss, among other matters, pricing volatility or pricing decline for natural gas and natural gas liquids; local, regional and national economic conditions and the impact those conditions may have on our customers; the impact of events beyond our control, including a global or domestic health crisis; dependence on gathering, processing and transportation facilities and other midstream facilities owned by others; conditions in the oil and gas industry; our current long-term debt obligations and the terms of the agreements that govern that debt; strategic determinations, including the allocation of capital and other resources to strategic opportunities; cyber-incidents targeting our systems, oil and natural gas industry systems and infrastructure, or the systems of our third-party service providers; and changes in safety, health, environmental and other regulations.
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SOURCE CNX Resources Corporation; Adams Fork Energy, LLC; Haldor Topsoe
