Faustina Hydrogen to build $1.6 billion gasification facility in Louisiana

Faustina Hydrogen Products LLC, a subsidiary of U. S. TransCarbon LLC, recently announced plans to construct a $1.6 billion solid carbon gasification facility next to Mosaic Fertilizer LLC’s phosphate manufacturing plant in St. James Parish, Louisiana.

The proposed facility would use petroleum coke and high sulfur coal as feedstocks to produce anhydrous ammonia for agriculture, methanol, sulfur and industrial grade carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide will be sequestered and sold as an industrial feedstock and for enhanced recovery of “stranded” oil reserves in oil fields along the Gulf Coast.

The company submitted regulatory permit applications to the State of Louisiana in early July, with construction expected to start immediately following receipt of appropriate permits and arrangement of debt financing. Faustina expects the 165-acre facility to be completed in 2010. Construction employment is estimated to peak at 1,400 workers, and once operational the facility would employ 200 people.

“Ammonia is an important fertilizer for U. S. agriculture. Natural gas is a feedstock for ammonia and the cost of natural gas has skyrocketed in recent years causing some companies to import lower cost ammonia from abroad,” says John Kinnamon, senior vice president development. 

“We believe this new facility will revitalize domestic production of ammonia, which is vital to our food supply.”

Contract awarded on Phase III of Huey P. Long Bridge widening project

The Louisiana Dept. of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has awarded the contract to widen the main span of the Huey P. Long Bridge over the Mississippi River in Jefferson Parish.

“The investment in the Huey P. Long Bridge project is vital to the economic growth of Jefferson Parish and the New Orleans area,” DOTD Secretary Johnny B. Bradberry says. “After careful consideration, we are accepting the recent bid and moving forward with this historic project.”

Massman Construction Co., Traylor Brothers Inc. and IHI Inc., submitted a bid of $453 million for Phase III of the four-phase construction project in June. The bid, which was the only bid received on the project, was 51 percent higher than the DOTD estimate of $299 million, and it has been under review for the past month.

“This phase of the project is very complex and requires a large amount of steel,” Bradberry said. “The price of steel is continuing to rise and there is no indication prices will drop. If we re-bid the project to get a better price, we risk having no bidders or receiving an even higher bid. Either scenario puts the entire project in jeopardy.”

The Huey P. Long Bridge widening project will improve traffic conditions for the approximately 50,000 vehicles that cross the bridge and adjoining intersections each day. The replacement of the traffic circles at Bridge City Avenue and Jefferson Highway with signalized intersections also will improve traffic flow in the area, decrease congestion and lessen back-ups onto the bridge.

Sixty-four students graduate from ABC Pelican Chapter’s summer training program

The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors received a grant from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to train participants in the craft areas of carpentry, electrical, pipefitting and welding.

Through this Federal Grant, which began on June 4, 64 students graduated on Aug. 10.  Students attended classes eight hours a day, five days a week for 10 weeks in craft areas of carpentry, electrical, pipefitting or welding. 

Each student completed two levels of training, many who will continue their training at the ABC Training Center night classes.  A job fair was held at the end of classes and most have gone to work with one of ABC’s many member contractors.

Prior to training each students was interviewed and screened with a Workeys test and then had to pass a drug screen. All students were paid a stipend of $50 per day, assuming acceptable attendance and classroom performance. Also, when students completed their training they were able to keep their tools which range in value from over $200 to $500. 

Topcor Belco purchases Bud Enterprise Lining

A newly formed company, TOPCOR BELCO LLC, recently purchased the assets of Bud Enterprise Lining Company Inc., a preeminent specialty contractor providing rubber lining of process vessels and steel fabrication in the Gulf Coast industrial markets.

Topcor Belco is owned by Jay Roccaforte, former president and CEO of Edgen Corp., a $200 million industrial distributor, and TOPCOR Cos. LLC, owned by James M. Baker, president and CEO.

Belco’s former owners, Jack Carter, Freddie Dufren, Larry Campbell and Don Mosley, will remain with the new company.  General Manager Scott Carter will continue with his current responsibilities and assist Mr. Roccaforte in growing the company by servicing the entire US market for rubber lining services and expanding the fabrication division.

New Orleans’ Walnut Square Apartments break ground

The New Orleans Division of Walton Construction Co. LLC recently broke ground for the Walnut Square Apartments in New Orleans, with Alphonso Jackson, secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, attending.

The $25 million project is a modular style apartment complex with 209 apartment units totaling 185,000 sq ft. Construction began this summer and is expected to be completed by July 2008.

“Walton Construction is proud to continue to assist the recovery effort by building a complex that will offer affordable housing to the people of New Orleans, and to the many waiting to return, but cannot because of  lack of housing after Hurricane Katrina,” says Michael Morgan, business development analyst of the New Orleans Division of Walton Construction.

The project will add more than 60 jobs to the New Orleans area. The project team includes owner, The NHP Foundation, construction manager, Walton Construction and SRF Group Architects.

HNTB named program management consultant for New Orleans Submerged Road Repair Program

The Louisiana Dept. of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has selected HNTB Corp. to serve as the prime program management consultant for the New Orleans Submerged Roads Repair Program. The initial two-year contract, Phase A of the program, will deliver about 60 roadway repair projects.

“The HNTB team will provide the program administration, management, data collection and analysis, typical section design as well as construction engineering and inspection services for the repair and rehabilitation of roadways damaged due to prolonged inundation by Hurricane Katrina floodwaters,” says Larry Busch, HNTB project manager. “Phase A of the program will occur primarily in Orleans Parish. Subsequent phases could total 500 mi of roadway in five parishes over a six-year period.” 

Nearly two years since Hurricane Katrina, local, regional and national agencies are determined to resurrect the Gulf Coast.

“The New Orleans Submerged Roads Repair Program has the potential to send a very positive signal to residents and the nation that New Orleans is making progress in its rebuilding,” says Tony Ducote, the DOTD section manager responsible for delivery of the program. “We are excited to be a part of this progress.” 

The program is 100 percent funded by the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) emergency repair funds allocated following Hurricane Katrina. Key local stakeholders in the program will be the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission and the New Orleans Department of Public Works.