By DAVE DREESZEN
Sioux City Journal
SERGEANT BLUFF -- CF Industries said Monday it has temporarily halted production at its Port Neal nitrogen complex as a "precautionary measure until the impact of rising water levels is known."
The Deerfield, Ill.-based company said it nearing completion on an earthen berm to protect the sprawling complex from the unprecedented releases from upstream reservoirs.
"We appreciate the extraordinary efforts of our employees at Port Neal and from other CF Industries locations in the region to protect our assets and ensure safe operations," CF vice president of manufacturing and distribution Tony Will said in a statement. "We are in contact with our customers and will let them know when we expect to resume production and deliveries from this facility."
The Port Neal complex, which has the capacity to produce more than 1 million tons of nitrogen products annually for agricultural and industrial customers, employs about 90. Workers will perform maintenance and other activities while production is idled, local spokeswoman Kim Mathers said.
Mathers said it will take one or two days to fully shut the plant down.
Some workers at the Port Neal offices could be temporarily relocated to Terra Centre offices in downtown Sioux City.
The company also is nearly finished with a temporary road that would provide access in and out of the plant if the main entrance road would flood, Mathers said.
The plant gets cooling water for its boilers from the nearby Missouri.
