97% Complete: The First U.S. Blue Ammonia Giant Goes Live in Weeks

The U.S. is about to hit a major milestone that many thought was still years away. Woodside Energy just announced its 1.1 million tonnes per annum Beaumont New Ammonia Project has reached 97% completion, with first ammonia production targeted for late 2025.

This isn't another announcement or another FID. This facility in Beaumont, Texas is actually weeks away from producing the first large-scale blue ammonia in the United States. Key systems are now operational, catalyst loading has begun, and commissioning activities are underway.

What makes this project stand apart is its design. The Beaumont facility is the world's first ammonia plant paired with autothermal reforming (ATR) and a 95% CO2 capture rate, setting a new benchmark for how blue ammonia gets produced at commercial scale.

The Supply Chain Model Everyone's Watching

The Beaumont project represents a new approach to blue ammonia production. Rather than building everything in-house, Woodside is relying on a collaborative supply chain model with two industry giants handling critical functions.

Linde will own and operate an adjacent hydrogen production facility, supplying low-carbon hydrogen feedstock starting in 2026. ExxonMobil will handle all carbon capture and storage services, permanently sequestering the CO2 produced during hydrogen production.

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Why This Project Matters for the Industry

Blue ammonia projects have been announced and reached FID across the globe for years. But very few have crossed the finish line into commercial production. Beaumont changes that narrative.

The project was originally developed by Netherlands-based OCI Global before Woodside acquired it in September 2024 for $2.35 billion. OCI managed construction while Woodside prepared for operations.

A Two-Phase Approach to Production

The project's rollout follows a carefully staged timeline that reflects the complexity of integrating carbon capture into ammonia production:

Phase 1: Conventional Ammonia (Late 2025)

Initial production will use natural gas feedstock from multiple Gulf Coast suppliers. The facility will produce conventional ammonia to serve traditional markets while the carbon capture infrastructure comes online.

Phase 2: Lower-Carbon Ammonia (2026)

Once Linde's hydrogen facility and ExxonMobil's CCS operations become fully operational, the plant will transition to producing lower-carbon ammonia. This product will primarily target European customers subject to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

The facility is also designed to accommodate a second 1.1 million tonnes per year production train. Woodside is targeting FID readiness for Phase 2 expansion in 2026, which would double total capacity.

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Strategic Positioning in a Growing Market

Global ammonia demand is forecast to double by 2050, with lower-carbon ammonia expected to make up nearly two-thirds of total demand. The potential applications extend beyond traditional fertilizer uses:

• Marine fuels for zero-carbon shipping
• Power generation as a coal and natural gas alternative
• Industrial feedstock for chemical manufacturing

Beaumont's Gulf Coast location gives it direct access to deepwater ports and extensive pipeline infrastructure. This positions Woodside to serve both domestic customers and international markets in Europe and Asia, where investment in blue ammonia continues to accelerate.

What Beaumont Means for Projects in the Pipeline

The next few weeks in Beaumont will be closely watched by every company with a blue ammonia project in development. Each milestone will provide real-world data on what it takes to bring a large-scale facility online.

For Woodside, this represents a material step toward its Scope 3 emissions targets and a chance to establish itself as a first mover. For the broader industry, it's proof that blue ammonia isn't just a concept on paper. What happens in Texas will shape how North America builds out its clean hydrogen and ammonia infrastructure.