Michigan Potash & Salt Co. and Barton Malow Co. complete EPC agreement for potash facility

Barton Malow and MPSC have worked collectively as a team over the last four years to advance the EPC schedule of the potash manufacturing facility, to be located in Evart Township which is home to the world's highest-grade potash ore.

“MPSC and Barton Malow have advanced the technical and management documentation to a level that is much further defined compared to other similar projects," said Rick Helper, EPC Program Manager for MPSC. "We are pleased to work with Barton Malow. They have a proven capability to safely and effectively deliver large projects in Michigan and the greater US."

A presidential order was issued in December to ensure secure and reliable US supplies of 35 critical and strategic minerals, including potash. The US currently imports over 95% of its potash needs, principally from Russia, Belarus, and Canada from four companies.

The MPSC facility is critically located in the US’s agriculture demand centre of consumption, and therefore lends immediate infrastructural and distribution strength to US fertilizer networks, which is mandated by the United States Defense Production Act. Soybean, corn, sugar beet, and potato farmers are some of the largest potash dependent growers.

MPSC began ground clearing and infrastructure improvements this winter, including power and road upgrades in partnership with infrastructural providers servicing Osceola County.

MPSC's potash manufacturing process uses a highly purifying water recycling system that is near 90% water recycle efficient. Potash ore in Michigan is accessed by circulating water and brine over 1.5 miles underground, and utilises green geothermal energy and combined heat and power technology. This enables an efficient, low cost, means of fertilizer manufacturing. Food grade saleable salt is a co-product advantage of the MPSC manufacturing process and provides additional revenue streams that offset operating cost, which are already the world's lowest net delivered to the corn belt.

Together, Barton Malow and MPSC will create approximately 260 direct construction jobs over a 3-year period, and an approximate 150 direct full-time skilled trade jobs will be created upon commissioning of the facility. The project delivers shared royalty, increases the industrial tax base, and reinvests sustaining capital of upwards of sixty million dollars every year.

"Barton Malow is thrilled to be partnered with MPSC on this extraordinary project," said Chuck Binkowski, Chief Operating Officer for Barton Malow Company. "This facility will positively impact agriculture in the US for many years to come."

Read the article online at: https://www.worldfertilizer.com/project-news/11032019/michigan-potash-salt-co-and-barton-malow-co-complete-epc-agreement-for-potash-facility/