Indiana facility to turn petcoke into carbon-negative fertilizer

In Washington D.C., the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office announced a $1.56 billion conditional loan guarantee to Wabash Valley Resources, supporting a project in West Terre Haute, Indiana, to produce low-carbon ammonia using petroleum coke as a feedstock. This facility will integrate carbon capture and sequestration technology to permanently store 1.6 million metric tons of CO2 annually, potentially making it the world’s first carbon-negative ammonia production site.

By repurposing fossil fuel infrastructure, the project aims to produce 500,000 metric tons of ammonia each year, essential for fertilizers in the Midwest. The use of petroleum coke—a waste byproduct from oil refining—alongside CCS technology, transforms this typically high-emission process into one that could remove more CO2 than it emits. The facility will help secure a reliable fertilizer supply for Midwest farmers, reducing dependency on imports and insulating the region from volatile global markets

Set to create hundreds of jobs, the project reflects the Biden administration’s dual goals of advancing clean energy technologies while revitalizing industrial communities. Wabash Valley Resources’ venture represents a significant step in addressing both agricultural needs and climate mitigation by leveraging waste products and innovative technology.