NCRA Completes $300 Million Clean Air Project
McPHERSON, Kan.--The National Cooperative Refinery Association (NCRA) completed its $300 million Clean Fuels project, the largest investment in the refinery's history.
The Clean Air project brings the 85,000 barrels-per-day central Kansas refinery into compliance with federal environmental requirements for producing ultra-low sulfur fuels a half-year ahead of a June 2006 deadline. The pending regulations require U.S. refiners to reduce sulfur levels in diesel fuel for both on- and off-road use from 500 parts per million to 15 parts per million.
"Completion of this project reinforces NCRA's commitment to environmental stewardship and to providing its customers with a dependable supply of quality gasoline and diesel fuel," said James Loving, NCRA president.
NCRA marked the project completion with a ribbon cutting and celebration featuring its board of directors, community leaders and employees.
To meet the ultra-low sulfur requirements, NCRA has constructed a state-of-the-art unicracker, a new hydrogen plant and additional sulfur handling capacity, as well as made modifications to existing process units.
NCRA is owned by CHS Inc., St. Paul, Minn. (74.5 percent); Growmark, Inc., Bloomington, Ill. (18.6 percent); and MFA Oil Company, Columbia, Mo., (6.9 percent). Through its three cooperative owners, the refinery is part of a supply network reaching 1,500 locally owned co-ops and more than 1,100 convenience stores that serve farmers, ranchers and other consumers from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Northwest and from the Canadian border south to Texas.
The Clean Air project brings the 85,000 barrels-per-day central Kansas refinery into compliance with federal environmental requirements for producing ultra-low sulfur fuels a half-year ahead of a June 2006 deadline. The pending regulations require U.S. refiners to reduce sulfur levels in diesel fuel for both on- and off-road use from 500 parts per million to 15 parts per million.
"Completion of this project reinforces NCRA's commitment to environmental stewardship and to providing its customers with a dependable supply of quality gasoline and diesel fuel," said James Loving, NCRA president.
NCRA marked the project completion with a ribbon cutting and celebration featuring its board of directors, community leaders and employees.
To meet the ultra-low sulfur requirements, NCRA has constructed a state-of-the-art unicracker, a new hydrogen plant and additional sulfur handling capacity, as well as made modifications to existing process units.
NCRA is owned by CHS Inc., St. Paul, Minn. (74.5 percent); Growmark, Inc., Bloomington, Ill. (18.6 percent); and MFA Oil Company, Columbia, Mo., (6.9 percent). Through its three cooperative owners, the refinery is part of a supply network reaching 1,500 locally owned co-ops and more than 1,100 convenience stores that serve farmers, ranchers and other consumers from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Northwest and from the Canadian border south to Texas.