NATCHEZ &8212; Rentech may have to buy more land from the county if possible expansion plans come to fruition.

The company was conducting additional engineering studies recently in anticipation of expansion of the original project, County Attorney Bob Latham said Friday.

&8220;They haven&8217;t made a final determination, but the prospect is they may develop the plant to increase the level of production,&8221; Latham said.

The originally proposed facility would produce roughly 10,000 barrels a day. The increase in production size may mean up to 20,000 barrels a day, Latham said.

In order to expand production, the company would probably need to buy additional county land adjacent to the proposed property.

Adams County Supervisors President Darryl Grennell said any additional land would have to have infrastructural development done.

He and others met with representatives&8217; staff members in Washington, D.C., Tuesday. Part of the conversation, he said, was discussion about getting federal appropriation to work on the land.

&8220;There is money in an appropriations bill for Natchez-Adams County,&8221; Grennell said.

&8220;I don&8217;t know if it&8217;s going to pass or not. We won&8217;t know if we&8217;ll get the money until the bill is signed into law.&8221;

More land and development would mean more money, Grennell said.

&8220;They didn&8217;t give me any hard numbers in terms of what the cost will be,&8221; Grennell said. &8220;Rentech&8217;s original plan was in the neighborhood of $800 million to $1 billion. If they&8217;re going to possibly increase the size in order to increase the output of fuel, we know it will probably be over $1 billion.&8221;

The original proposed plant would employ roughly 200 workers and would likely be located on the Bellwood Country Club property near the Adams County Port.