The journey to first ammonia: Three questions with Rachel Archer, VP Projects International
The Beaumont New Ammonia (BNA) Project is Woodside’s biggest investment in new energy to date.
| First ammonia production is targeted for the second half of 2025, with lower-carbon ammonia production targeted for the second half of 2026. Rachel Archer, Vice President Projects International, shares her insights on Woodside’s journey to first ammonia and project completion. |
It has been a busy time for you and the team. What are some of the key highlights since we first announced the acquisition?
This is such an exciting time for our international business, as we get ready to add a new commodity to our portfolio and start a new chapter for Woodside’s new energy business.
Since announcing the acquisition of the Project from OCI, we’ve been focused on business integration, operational readiness and assurance. And we’ve been making excellent progress with the Construction of Train 1 now about 90% complete (as of Q1 2025). Construction of the first phase of the Project, which has a design capacity of 1.1 million tonnes per annum, is currently being managed by OCI and this will continue through project completion.
From a people perspective, we are looking forward to welcoming new team members to Woodside from OCI, when the Project is complete. We believe that OCI’s experience and expertise in this business, coupled with Woodside’s global operating capability, will set us up to deliver a safe and efficient ammonia operation.
"As we get closer to our project milestones, we will remain focused on operational readiness, working to ensure safe handover throughout the integration process."
What excites you the most about the opportunities for BNA?
BNA is important to Woodside’s future growth and demonstrates we are delivering on our strategy to thrive through the energy transition with a low-cost, lower-carbon, profitable, resilient and diversified portfolio.1
What makes BNA particularly exciting is that it is delivering the world’s first ammonia plant paired with auto thermal reforming for 95% CO2 capture.
The global market for premium lower-carbon ammonia is emerging. With BNA joining our international portfolio, Woodside is well positioned to be an early mover in this market, once the auto thermal reformer and associated carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities come into operation next year.
The Project has an advantageous location on the US Gulf Coast with access to resilient and abundant feedstock and a deepwater port for international export. Once in production in the second half of 2025, BNA will be well placed to serve the US domestic market as well as European and Asia Pacific markets, which are expected to lead adoption of lower-carbon ammonia.
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What are your expectations as we get closer to first production?
There has been incredible work completed by many teams to progress this opportunity. I know the project teams at site are not only working hard but have a deep commitment to working safely.
As we get closer to our project milestones, we will remain focused on operational readiness, working to ensure safe handover throughout the integration process. We are committed to reducing risk and disruption and maximising business continuity.
I especially appreciate that this part of the journey involves a shared commitment between OCI and Woodside to working safely and delivering a successful ammonia operation. Our goal is to seamlessly integrate this new asset and business into Woodside’s organisation, processes, culture and ways of working.
1 For Woodside, a lower-carbon portfolio is one from which the net equity Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, which includes the use of offsets, are being reduced towards targets, and into which new energy products and lower-carbon services are planned to be introduced as a complement to existing and new investments in oil and gas. Our Climate Policy sets out the principles that we believe will assist us achieve this aim.
