Skip to main content

Nitrogen+Syngas 401 May-Jun 2026

20 May 2026

Blue ammonia start-up delayed at Beaumont

Blue ammonia start-up delayed at Beaumont

Woodside Energy has formally assumed control of the Beaumont New Ammonia (BNA) facility in Texas, following the completion of performance testing by previous owner OCI. However, speaking at a recent press briefing for Woodside’s quarterly results, CEO Liz Westcott admitted that the switch to carbon capture and storage at the 1.1 million t/a ammonia facility was now being delayed to 2027.

OCI finalised the sale of the plant to Woodside in September 2024 for a total price of $2.3 billion, including all capital expenditure, subject to successful completion of the project and a successful startup to ammonia production. The plant was completed last year and began operation in December 2025.

“Successful completion of performance testing and assumption of operational control of the Beaumont New Ammonia facility is an important milestone in Woodside’s strategy to invest in new energy products and lower-carbon services,” said Woodside CEO Liz Westcott. “In the facility’s operational phase and in the face of current market disruptions, we remain focused on safely delivering ammonia supply to our customers. In the longer term, we retain our goal of supporting the development of a competitive lower-carbon ammonia sector.”

The facility relies on Linde for supply of green hydrogen and handling of CO2 offtake, and their own part of the project has reportedly suffered construction delays. However, Westcott also pointed up commercial reasons for a slower switch to blue ammonia production. “While there’s interest in lower carbon ammonia, the uptake in demand is slower than we had forecast,” she told investors during the results presentation.

Latest in Agricultural

Australia fast-tracks Murchison green ammonia project

Australia’s federal government has selected the Murchison Green Hydrogen project in Western Australia as one of four pilot projects under its newly launched Investor Front Door initiative, a scheme designed to streamline regulatory approvals and fast-track major projects deemed to be in the national interest, the government announced 9 April. The Murchison project, which will use wind and solar energy to produce large-scale green ammonia, is intended to serve as a model for commercial-scale green hydrogen development in Australia and to generate green export opportunities to markets in Asia and Europe. Murchison, being developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ (CIP), is expected to have a total production capacity of roughly 1.3 million t/a of green ammonia. The first phase of operations is due to begin in 2029.

CF Industries delays turnaround to ease supply concerns

CF Industries has delayed a planned multi-week maintenance turnaround at its Donaldsonville, Louisiana complex, the world’s largest ammonia production facility, in response to the supply disruption caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure, the producer announced in a press release. The company said the decision is expected to make approximately 100,000 tonnes of additional granular urea available to US customers during the spring application season. CF Industries added that it is also prioritising new sales to domestic customers over higher-priced export orders for the duration of the spring planting season.

SABIC secures feedstock for new plants

SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company says that it has received approval from the Saudi Ministry of Energy to allocate feedstock required for the construction of its seventh plant in Jubail Industrial City. The new facility will produce approximately 1.2 million t/a of ammonia and 2.6 million t/a of urea, increasing the company’s urea production capacity from 4.8 million t/a to 7.4 million t/a; a 54% increase. This is expected to strengthen its position as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of nitrogen-based nutrients, in line with its 2040 growth strategy.