Artist's rendering of the Cronus Chemicals ammonia plant highlighting carbon capture technology.
Tuscola, Illinois, August 28, 2025
Cronus Chemicals has announced plans to construct a $2 billion ammonia fertilizer plant near Tuscola, Illinois. This facility, covering 230 acres, aims to produce nearly 1 million short tons of ammonia annually, creating 130 full-time jobs and enhancing local agricultural supply. The project, supported by an EDGE agreement, incorporates carbon capture technology for emission reduction, emphasizing a shift towards more sustainable fertilizer production and reduced reliance on imports.
Construction begins on a $2 billion ammonia fertilizer plant near Tuscola, Illinois, following more than a decade of planning and permitting. The project is expected to create 130 full-time jobs at the facility and additional jobs during the building phase. The new plant will sit on 230 acres and is scheduled to open in about 3.5 years.
The facility will produce nearly 1 million short tons of ammonia annually, supplying locally made fertilizer to Midwestern farmers and aiming to make fertilizer access more reliable and affordable for Illinois agriculture. The plant is intended to help reduce U.S. dependence on imported nitrogen fertilizer, at a time when the country imports more than 2 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer every year.
The project will include carbon capture and storage technology designed to cut emissions from the plant by up to 90 percent. That feature is a central part of efforts to lower the environmental footprint of fertilizer production while increasing domestic output.
The project is supported by a state Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) agreement. Officials describe the investment as one of the largest single private investments in Central Illinois in recent years and say it will return ammonia production to the region after it had been absent for decades. State leaders also view the plant as a boost to the broader agricultural economy; Illinois’ agricultural sector produces more than $26 billion annually.
Construction is expected to create a significant number of temporary jobs, with 130 permanent roles at the finished plant. The site will cover roughly 230 acres and is planned to be operational in about 3.5 years from the start of construction. The announcement of the project was made at the 2025 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois.
Illinois is the nation’s largest consumer of ammonia. By producing ammonia locally, the plant aims to strengthen regional fertilizer supply chains and improve access for Midwestern farmers. Project leaders have framed the build as a needed expansion of domestic capacity to meet U.S. ammonia demand.
The Cronus Chemicals plant follows more than a decade of planning and permitting work. Support at the state level, including the EDGE agreement, helped move the plan forward. The project’s scale and its technology choices are cited as key reasons for state and local backing.
Groundwork and site preparation will begin first, followed by phased construction of production units, storage, and carbon capture facilities. Hiring for the permanent workforce will ramp up closer to plant completion, while construction hiring will be concentrated in the early years of the project.
Local and state officials say the plant should improve fertilizer availability, lower some supply risks tied to imports, and keep more of the production value chain within the region. The combination of local supply and emissions-reduction technology aims to address both economic and environmental concerns tied to fertilizer production.
Construction is set to begin soon after the announcement, with the plant expected to open in approximately 3.5 years.
The completed facility is expected to employ about 130 full-time workers, with additional temporary jobs during construction.
The plant will produce nearly 1 million short tons of ammonia annually to be used in fertilizers for Midwestern farmers.
The facility will include carbon capture and storage technology intended to reduce emissions by up to 90 percent from the plant’s operations.
The plant aims to lower reliance on imported nitrogen fertilizer. The U.S. currently imports more than 2 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer each year, and this project adds significant domestic capacity.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project owner | Cronus Chemicals |
| Investment | $2 billion |
| Location | Near Tuscola, Illinois |
| Site size | 230 acres |
| Production capacity | Nearly 1 million short tons of ammonia annually |
| Permanent jobs | 130 full-time positions |
| Opening timeline | Approximately 3.5 years |
| Environmental tech | Carbon capture and storage (up to 90% emissions reduction) |
| State support | EDGE agreement |
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