Samsung E&A secured a 680 billion won ($475 million) contract to engineer and build a low-carbon ammonia plant in West Terre Haute, Indiana, marking the South Korean company’s first U.S. project since 2011. The 30-month deal with Wabash Valley Resources represents part of a broader $2.6 billion facility that received a $1.5 billion federal loan just days ago.
The plant aims to produce 500,000 tonnes of ammonia annually while capturing 1.67 million tonnes of carbon dioxide for permanent underground storage. Samsung E&A said it will deploy carbon capture technology from Honeywell to reduce emissions from the natural gas-based production process.
The project has sparked resistance from local residents concerned about property rights, potential pipeline leaks, and environmental risks from carbon sequestration. Critics have questioned the involvement of foreign investors in a facility supported by taxpayer-backed loans, though Wabash Valley Resources maintains the ammonia will serve Midwest farmers rather than export markets.
Samsung E&A positions the contract as part of its “E&Able” strategy focusing on low-carbon energy solutions. The company faces competition in a nascent but rapidly growing market, with blue ammonia production costs still higher than conventional methods despite federal subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act.
