UPDATED: 01/01/2016 — see Change Log

OWNER: Green Valley Chemical Corporation
PROJECT: Ammonia plant[memberful does_not_have_subscription=”1314-ammonia-industry-annual-subscription,1311-ammonia-industry-monthly-subscription,3338-ammonia-industry-30-day-subscription”]

COST (reported): None given
JOB CREATION (reported): 33 permanent — see Job Openings [LINK]
START-UP DATE (reported): 1966

CAPACITY	USGS[1]	COMPANY[2]	PERMIT[3]	ADJUSTED[4]
Ammonia	32,000 mtpy	100 stpd	[Membership required]	[Membership required]
Units: stpd, stpy, mtpd, mtpy = short/metric tons per day/year. [1] United States Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Yearbook, Nitrogen gives capacity in metric tons per year, calculated as “engineering design capacity adjusted for 340 days per year of effective production capability,” rounded to three significant digits. Source: most recent year, Table 4: Domestic Producers of Ammonia, http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/nitrogen/. [2] Company website. [3] [Membership required]. Sources: linked below. [4] [Membership required]. See Methodology.

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SUMMARY STATUS:
In operation since 1966, Green Valley Chemical’s Creston plant is the smallest stand-alone commercial ammonia plant in the US.

COST: None given
JOB CREATION: 33 permanent — see Job Openings [LINK]
START-UP DATE: 1966

CAPACITY	USGS[1]	COMPANY[2]	PERMIT[3]	ADJUSTED[4]
Ammonia	32,000 mtpy	100 stpd	119 stpd	39,337 mtpy
Units: stpd, stpy, mtpd, mtpy = short/metric tons per day/year. [1] United States Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Yearbook, Nitrogen gives capacity in metric tons per year, calculated as “engineering design capacity adjusted for 340 days per year of effective production capability,” rounded to three significant digits. Source: most recent year, Table 4: Domestic Producers of Ammonia, http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/nitrogen/. [2] Company website. [3] Iowa DNR 2015 Title V permit, converted from hourly capacity (x24). Sources: linked below. [4] Adjusted Capacity is in metric tons per year assuming operations for 365 days per year; based on permitted capacity. See Methodology.

FEEDSTOCK: Natural gas
END PRODUCTS: Ammonia, Carbon Dioxide

RESEARCH NOTES:
Green Valley Chemical Corporation began operations in 1966 as a result of “the organizational effort of a group of local agricultural dealers.”

With an “average production rate of around 100 tons per day,” it consumes “around 150,000 scfh of natural gas” feedstock, and is by far the smallest commercial ammonia plant in North America (at least, until Fortigen starts up its plant at Geneva, NE).

All the ammonia ships out by truck.

In 1976, Green Valley Chemical established a subsidiary to capture and market the carbon dioxide emitted by the ammonia production process. Midwest Carbonic produces “around 135 tons per day of liquid CO2,” which is either sold as liquid or converted into dry ice.[/memberful]

View larger map with all ammonia plants.

ADDRESS: 1284 Cherry Street Road, Creston, Iowa, 50801, United States

WEBSITE: http://www.greenvalleychemical.com/

REGULATORY SOURCES:

• USGS: Minerals Yearbook, Nitrogen [RECENT / ARCHIVE]
• EPA Emissions data: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Large Facilities: GREEN VALLEY CHEMICAL CORP [LINK]
• Risk Management Plan: Right to Know Network: Green Valley Chemical Corp [LINK]
• Operating Permit (Title V): Iowa DNR Operating Permits [LINK] / Green Valley Chemical Corporation Operating Permit, 2015 [PDF]

NEWS SOURCES:

• 01/08/2015: Des Moines Register: Manager says 1 dead following explosion at Iowa plant [LINK]