A joint venture comprising CF Industries, Japanese energy leader JERA, and global trading group Mitsui has officially broken ground on Blue Point One, a $3.7 billion low-carbon ammonia facility located in Modeste, Louisiana.
Upon completion in 2029, the plant will be the largest facility of its kind in the world, boasting an annual production capacity of 1.4 million metric tons of low-carbon ammonia to supply global agricultural markets and emerging clean energy applications.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by high-ranking federal, state, and local officials, including US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden, Assistant Secretary of the Army Adam Telle, Representative Julia Letlow, Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois, and local parish leaders.
Advanced Autothermal Reforming Technology Drives 98% Carbon Capture Target
Blue Point One will stand as one of the world’s first industrial-scale facilities to deploy autothermal reforming (ATR) technology for hydrogen production prior to ammonia synthesis.
By leveraging ATR alongside advanced carbon management systems, the facility is designed to capture and permanently store 98% of the CO2 generated during the production cycle.
Carbon dioxide captured at the Modeste site will be transported and geologically sequestered via pipeline infrastructure developed by a joint venture between 1PointFive (a subsidiary of Occidental) and energy midstream operator Enbridge.
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To support the primary plant, industrial gas producer Linde will invest over $400 million to construct an on-site air-separation unit to supply dedicated oxygen and nitrogen streams.
Additionally, CF Industries is committing $550 million over four years to build out shared, scalable infrastructure at its broader Blue Point Complex to accommodate future facility expansions and fertilizer upgrades.
The multi-billion-dollar project represents a substantial economic booster for Louisiana’s industrial corridor, creating approximately 3,900 construction jobs over a four-year buildout phase and establishing more than 100 permanent, high-paying manufacturing roles once operational.
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CF Industries President and CEO Chris Bohn emphasized the dual benefits to domestic food security and international trade:
“We are proud to break ground on the Blue Point One joint venture… Most importantly, this facility will serve people, growing access to the reliable, domestic nitrogen supply American farmers need to feed the world, expanding our nation’s export capacity through shipping American-made energy to global markets and creating jobs in Louisiana.”
Leadership from JERA and Mitsui underscored that the facility strengthens transatlantic energy partnerships between the United States and Asia, providing resilient, low-carbon ammonia supply chains for power generation and industrial decarbonization in overseas markets.
