Federal officials, state leaders, and energy executives gathered Wednesday to celebrate a milestone years in the making as CF Industries broke ground on Blue Point One, a nearly $4 billion low-carbon ammonia facility expected to become the world’s largest of its kind.
The groundbreaking marks the start of major construction on the joint venture between CF Industries, Japan-based JERA Co. Inc. and Mitsui & Co. The project is expected to begin commercial operations in 2029.
For Terry Dugas, general manager of the Blue Point Complex, the groundbreaking is the culmination of years of planning, engineering, permitting and collaboration among the project partners, government agencies and the local community. Dugas notes construction activity has already begun and will support approximately 3,900 construction jobs over the project’s four-year build-out. CF Industries has also started hiring and training the workforce that will operate the facility once it comes online. The project is expected to create more than 100 permanent jobs with an average salary of approximately $110,000 per year.
Once operational, Blue Point One will produce about 1.4 million metric tons of low-carbon ammonia annually, making it the world’s largest ammonia plant by nameplate capacity. The facility will use autothermal reforming technology and carbon capture systems designed to permanently sequester nearly 98% of the carbon dioxide generated during production.
The project will strengthen Ascension Parish’s role as a growing hub for advanced manufacturing and low-carbon energy, Dugas says. He notes that the parish’s strategic position, with access to natural gas, carbon sequestration infrastructure and deep-water shipping capabilities, makes it well suited to serve both traditional agricultural customers and emerging energy markets.
Blue Point One is expected to capture about 2.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually for permanent storage through 1PointFive’s Pelican Sequestration Hub in Louisiana. CF Industries is also investing an additional $550 million in shared infrastructure at the Blue Point site, including storage and loading facilities that will support the joint venture.
