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Rentech construction to start next year
Published Thursday, January 21, 2010
NATCHEZ — Rentech officials in town Wednesday said they plan to start construction on their Adams County facility next year.
During the three-year construction phase, the coal-to-liquid fuel company estimates creating 2,284 jobs for residents in and surrounding the Miss-Lou.
After construction is complete, the company expects to employ 400 workers.
Rentech officials visited with members of the Natchez Rotary Club Wednesday and will talk to the Trace City Kiwanis today to share the results of an economic impact study done by Alcorn State University.
Two ASU business professors from the Natchez campus, Vivek Bhargava and Kimball P. Marshall, used sophisticated computer modeling software to draw conclusions about how many jobs would be generated by the construction and operation of a Rentech plant in Natchez.
Their numbers account for jobs that could be created to accommodate everything from transport to storage of Rentech’s inputs and outputs.
The study says construction phase expenditures are estimated to create more than 3,411 annual jobs in the state of Mississippi.
The study also projects 987 of those full-time jobs will be in Adams County.
And after the facility begins fuel production, the statewide impact could be up to 2,115 jobs.
Rentech Executive Vice President of Technology and Commercial Affairs Rick Penning said the company considers the Natchez project a top priority.
“We have two major projects and Natchez is by far the biggest project for us,” Penning said. “This is a world scale project.”
Rentech announced in December the signing of a non-binding memorandum with 13 airlines interested in buying fuel produced in Natchez. The memorandum of understanding set 2014 as the tentative goal for the start of fuel sales.
No exact dates are scheduled, and the company is still working to sign on investors and complete necessary permitting.
Rentech plans to construct the its plant at the former site of International Paper, a portion of which Rentech purchased in 2008.
Comments
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 12:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I,ll believe when i see it.
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 12:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Same here!
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 3:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with the two people above me.
But I do HOPE it's true, Natchez needs jobs so desperately.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 5 a.m. (Suggest removal)
natashakubelikov, even when you see it you'll have something negative to say about it.
:)
Posted by Hey_Yall (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is everyone so negative about Rentech? Can someone please explain to a newcomer to Natchez what happened in the past to make some residents so cynical when it comes to a new plant or business coming to town? I'm listening(reading).
Posted by itsmemame (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree OldGranDad!!! Poor natashakubelikov has to be the most miserable negative thinking person around. NEVER have I seen a positive comment..... listen to me, I sound just like the pot calling the skillet black. Oh, well I just had to get that off my chest.
Posted by Big_Red16 (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Being so negative can only hurt Adams County/Natchez.
Posted by CtheOtherSide (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard there would be only about 400ish jobs created and about half of those would be people from outside. Can anyone verify the numbers? I agree...the article contradicted itself in a way. 2000ish (construction - I get that part), then it becomes 400ish (near-idle operation?) which becomes 2000ish (maybe reflects once all 13 MOU airlines are on-board at full-scale production?)
I'd also like to know the history that produces such skepticism since I haven't lived here a long time either.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rentech has been in the process of coming to Natchez for I guess 4 years now. They were basicly given land at the old IP plant, flashed some smoke and mirrors at the supervisors, got a lot of tax promises and almost disappeared. Then we hear they have a plant in Colorado making fuel for the government. And it just goes on and on. You can search the Democrat site for more and better info.
Posted by DelBocaVista (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Not being negative, but there are too many loopholes in this article.
"Start sometime next year"
"No exact dates are scheduled"
"Still working on signing on investors"
"Non-binding memorandum with airlines"
I hope things work out. But it could also be like the old Brother Dave Gardner joke about the guy who kept putting up the billboards in town saying "it's coming", "it's gonna be big", "it will be here January 21st - buy your tickets now", and then the day of the show, he put up a sign that said "it's gone".
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Crimony, you people are BITTER. Why not just go out there and welcome them with torches and pitchforks.
If i based my business decision to come to Natchez on what I read here I'd run away from this town in a heartbeat.
You're disgusting.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah all the negative talk on here this sickens me too. Why do people talk so negative about Natchez. I am so tired of hearing people complain about what they have or dont have in this town. If you dont like it get out!
There has to be a town somewhere for people who like to complain about everything they dont get handed to them and that is where this people need to go.
Posted by cesmith (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would gladly welcome them, if they are going to finally get something going. The only thing that makes me bitter about all of it is that I hope they aren't gonna start making empty promises. I kind of feel like that is what they did before. I thought they were supposed to start construction on that place like 3 or 4 years ago... I just hope that it is finally going to happen.
Our towns economy could really use that boost!
Posted by naturegirl (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't see anyone being negative about Natchez, just the lies on top of lies Rentech has been spouting. Kind of like the government - people can only take so much lying before they get fed up and do something about it.
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
@naturegirl: Wow, you must be a real insider to know all the details of each and every negotiation and plan at Rentech. Perhaps, since you are such an insider, you can give a detailed, indepth, moment by moment account of all the Rentech plans and actions for all of Natchez and Adams County. You'd better call the Democrat and have them send a reporter right over. We will ALL want to know every detail you know about Rentech. I mean, since you know how much they lie on top of lie, and all...
Gee, who knew? Naturegirl is in the know about ALL of Rentech's business. EVEN the LIES!!!
Hmmmm.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We all are in the know about the lies - the Democrat has printed enough of them.
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think it's right to criticize people about being very doubtful or negative about this.
I mean seriously, this town has been on a downward spiral for several years now and all we hear are empty promises.
As far as telling people to just leave, well it isn't quite that easy. A lot of us have extended family here, own businesses and or land/property here...and God knows no one is buying the property, so leaving is not an option for some.
I really do love so many things about Natchez; I love knowing everyone, I love the quaintness ect... I just REALLY need the economy to pick up somehow.
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was at the Rotary meeting - this article bears little resemblance to the meeting.
The job numbers quoted are much higher than mentioned for Natchez - I assume the jobs mentioned are "all" jobs created including the ones created to take advantage of the extra money that will be in the local economy.
Rentech has a long way to go before this gets off the ground - but I believe that they are trying to raise the money, find customers for all its products, and prove that the system is viable under current market conditions.
This project will have to be backed by "green" consumers and that may require new laws to require a certain amount of non petroleum products in all fuels.
All of this takes time - I hope that everything falls into place and construction starts as planned. Rentech have not promised anything and have done everything they said they would do.
Lets keep our fingers crossed that everything works out.
If you want a 50/50 chance of making money in a stock try rentech - I think you will either lose your shirt or make money - lets hope for the best!
Posted by brucie (anonymous) on January 21, 2010 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
just be thankful and positive
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on January 24, 2010 at 12:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Scam 101
Posted by BigFred (anonymous) on January 24, 2010 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'd just like to say to the negative thinkers/posters - Have you ever wondered what could happen if you'd turn that negativity into positive thoughts? I'd love it if someone would get on here, state your concern and express just exactly how you think the issue needs to be turned around. If you're so unhappy with what's happening and how things are handled, you tell us all how to fix it. (not by saying get rid of so and so) I don't mind hearing peoples thoughts, but if you're going to share, PLEASE share how you think the issue can be resolved. Have you ever wondered what would happen if you take it to the source and work it out? I'm pretty sure any of the officials that you are unhappy with would love to have a 'sit down' and hear how you would fix things. Cone on people let's work together for the betterment of our community.
Posted by Hey_Yall (anonymous) on January 29, 2010 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just did a quick search for "Rentech" here on the Democrat and found an article from 2005 that said the plant would be built by 2010. Now I understand other articles mentioned the process coming along better than expected but the bottomline is these things take a LONG time to come to fruition. Be patient and positive!
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