LSB and Lapis: retrofitting CCS to existing ammonia production in the USA

The United States has around 19.2 million tons of existing ammonia production capacity, largely based on gas reformation. Gas-based ammonia production emits a high purity carbon dioxide stream as part of the overall process, which is an ideal candidate for carbon capture and sequestration (or CCS). The US federal government also provides incentives for CCS via the 45Q tax credit, providing $85 per ton CO2 sequestered over a 12 year period. But, despite these advantages, to date only a few projects have reached a final investment decision.

One of these projects is at LSB Industries’ existing ammonia production facility in El Dorado, Arkansas. Based on the annual production of 375,000 tons of ammonia, 450,000 tons per year of concentrated carbon dioxide per year will be sequestered from 2026 onward. Lapis Carbon Solutions will construct and operate the CCS infrastructure, including an underground saline aquifer for permanent CO2 sequestration. In May 2024 LSB Industries signed an offtake agreement with Freeport Minerals Corporation for the supply of up to 150,000 tons of low-carbon ammonium nitrate solution (ANS) per year, which is set to be produced from low-emission ammonia at El Dorado.

To discuss how the project has successfully progressed, Jakob Krummenacher (Vice President of Clean Energy, LSB Industries), and Reg Manhas (CEO, Lapis Carbon Solutions) will be joined in conversation by AEA Technology Manager Kevin Rouwenhorst. Join us on 24 September @ 10AM EST for a fascinating discussion, and be sure to submit your questions for our speakers in advance.