Koch Nitrogen broke ground Wednesday on a $20 million project at its facility east of Enid.
Plant manager Mike Kleis said the $20 million project will start with a $4 million control center. The Enid plant is the largest fertilizer plant owned by Koch.
Kleis said the control center is the cornerstone for future capital expenditures in the coming years.
“This is an important day for the employees, it is a major step forward,” he said.
The new control center, when fully operational in 2012, will make the plant fully automated and reduce energy and water use. It also will enhance the overall reliability of the plant, while increasing efficiency.
Mayor John Criner said the construction is another example of Enid growing. He said the project is important to Enid, and the city is fortunate to have Koch as a corporate citizen.
“I always tell people, if you come to Enid you better wear a hard hat, because we’re a community under construction,” Criner said.
“Enid has a good work ethic and this is a wonderful opportunity for Enid to grow, and we’re grateful for Koch in Enid,” he said.
Construction on the 10,000-square-foot control center will start later this month, possibly as early as next week, Kleis said. Koch Nitrogen employs about 100 people here. The plant and its affiliates produce and distribute fertilizer about 10 million metric tons of fertilizer products worldwide annually.
Kleis said the construction project will last two or three years and construction crews will be in Enid constantly.
“Today is a very exciting day for our company, as this new control center will allow us to take a more streamlined approach to our business,” Steve Packebush, president of Koch Nitrogen, said in a news release. “However, it is important to note that this new control center is a cornerstone for our future plans, a first step to lead the way for an additional $20 million-plus in capital expenditures in the coming years.”
Koch Nitrogen, based in Wichita, Kan., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Fertilizer, LLC. Koch Nitrogen and Koch Fertilizer are indirect subsidiaries of Koch Industries, one of the largest privately held companies in America. Koch Industries owns a diverse group of companies involved in refining and chemicals; process and pollution control equipment and technologies; mineral; fertilizers; polymers and fibers; commodity trading and services; and forest and consumer products.