Black & Veatch Completes Detailed Design Work for Koch Fertilizer’s Upgrade of Plant in Beatrice, Nebraska

Black & Veatch also maps out engineering, procurement schedule for output-increasing project

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With Black & Veatch having completed key front-end engineering design (FEED) work and cost guidance, Koch Fertilizer is undertaking a $90-million upgrade of its Nebraska nitrogen plant, looking to boost output while improving its reliability and environmental and safety performance.

As part of the push to increase production capacity of urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) by 75,000 tons annually, Black & Veatch worked closely with Koch Fertilizer and the technology provider in performing the necessary up-front design. Black & Veatch also provided total direct cost insights and developed the integrated, detailed engineering and procurement schedule for the project, which includes a vent scrubber system.

The improvements at the plant, which produces ammonia and liquid UAN fertilizer, are to be completed this fall and build on other recent enhancements, including increasing ammonia loading capacity.

Beginning in March 2020, Black & Veatch provided detailed engineering and procurement services for the primary, non-proprietary equipment and other supporting components and commodities. Black & Veatch completed the primary engineering work at the end of last year – safely, despite COVID-19 restrictions and challenges – and will provide Koch Fertilizer with engineering support during construction, commissioning and startup.

“As Koch Fertilizer continues to transform its operations in a responsible, safe and environmentally friendly way, Black & Veatch is proud to again deliver the trusted design expertise and other guidance expected from a company with more than a century of solutions,” said Mick Scrivens, vice president and managing director of Black & Veatch’s gas, fuels and chemicals business.

“Black & Veatch continues to be a valued partner, and we are pleased to collaborate with them on this project,” said Rick Reisner, project management leader with Koch Fertilizer LLC. "The Black & Veatch team demonstrated their technical expertise, innovation and global project execution to develop the initial front-end engineering and the detailed engineering and procurement services. We value the common culture, vision and values Black & Veatch shares with Koch."

Editor’s Notes:

• The Beatrice plant has received ENERGY STAR certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2019 and 2020, signifying that the site performs in the top 25 percent of similar fertilizer manufacturing facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meets strict EPA energy efficiency performance levels.
• For more details about Black & Veatch’s solutions in the ammonia and fertilizer space, click here.

About Black & Veatch

Black & Veatch is an employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Our revenues in 2020 exceeded US$3.0 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.