The Great Plains Synfuels Plant is the first U.S. commercial scale coal gasification plant. This plant is successful technically, environmentally and financially. The plant exceeds all environmental requirements. The plant converts about 18,000 tpd of lignite to syngas using gasification technology. The plant removes impurities and hazardous materials. Great Plains Synfuels also captures the CO2 and sends it to Canada by pipeline for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). EOR is considered an environmentally friendly solution for storing CO2 underground.

The project was originally funded with a DOE loan. The project got off to a shaky start due to the market price for it’s products after start up, but has since been a huge financial success. Basin spokesman Floyd Robb said the $57.2 million payment was the eighth one made to the Energy Department. The payments have totaled more than $379 million, he said. The company expects to make its final payment to the DOE next year..

Gasification technology – Lurgi gasification.