A urea production facility at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant produced urea for the first time on Jan. 19, 2018.
Urea is a granular fertilizer commonly used in agricultural applications. Dakota Gas currently produces two other fertilizers, anhydrous ammonia and ammonium sulfate (Dak Sul 45®). Urea production requires anhydrous ammonia and carbon dioxide, both of which are produced at the Synfuels Plant. Urea has the highest nitrogen content of all solid fertilizers, but costs less to handle, store and transport than other nitrogen-based fertilizers. It is also safer to transport and handle than anhydrous ammonia.
The plant has the ability to shift urea production to produce diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). DEF is used to reduce NOx emissions in diesel engines, as mandated by the federal government on all new diesel engines. A 1.1-million gallon stainless steel storage tank will be constructed at the plant to store the DEF. The plant is also be able to produce liquefied carbon dioxide.
Urea is a dry, solid crystalline containing 46-percent nitrogen that is widely used in the agricultural industry as a fertilizer and sometimes as animal feed. In liquor form, urea can be used for NOx abatement at power and coal plants and as feedstock to make other nitrogen fertilizers. Urea is the most widely traded fertilizer in the world.
- Dakota Gas has the capacity to produce 1,100 tons of urea per day
- Dakota Gas has the storage for 53,000 short tons of granular urea on-site
- The urea facility is able to load trucks, single railcars, or unit trains up to 65 railcars
- Dakota Gas' production facility allows 24/7 plant access
Urea is available to the area agricultural community through local fertilizer retailers.
