A new project called the Kemmerer Decarbonization Works (KDW) has been proposed in Kemmerer, Wyoming by Glenrock Energy LLC and Kanata America Inc. The $2.5 billion coal-to-ammonia factory would be built next to the Kemmerer Coal Mine and could use up to 1.8 million tons of coal annually.
The project aims to tap into the growing global demand for ammonia, which has increased in price due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ammonia is a key ingredient in fertilizer and is also used by coal-fired power plants to burn fuel more cleanly.
KDW's process would remove 90% of the carbon dioxide from coal gas and store it underground. The ammonia produced could be transported to regional markets or exported. Construction could begin in late 2025 and take three years.
The project sponsors see KDW as a way to repurpose Wyoming coal and establish an industrial base to compete with top ammonia exporters like China and Russia. They are considering using the Kemmerer model as a template for other coal-to-ammonia factories in the U.S.
For more details, read the full article on Cowboy State Daily.