Woodside Energy has assumed operational control of the Beaumont New Ammonia (BNA) facility in southeast Texas, following the successful completion of performance testing and formal handover from OCI Global.
The move marks a significant step in Woodside’s strategy to expand its new energy portfolio and strengthen its position in the global ammonia market.
With a production and export capacity of up to 1.1 million tonnes per annum, the BNA facility represents a major addition to Woodside’s growing international operations.
Once fully operational, BNA is expected to approximately double US ammonia exports, contributing to both regional economic growth and the expansion of global supply for the commodity.
Woodside CEO Liz Westcott said: “Successful completion of performance testing and assumption of operational control of the Beaumont New Ammonia facility is an important milestone in Woodside’s strategy to invest in new energy products and lower-carbon services.
“In the facility’s operational phase and in the face of current market disruptions, we remain focused on safely delivering ammonia supply to our customers.
“In the longer term, we retain our goal of supporting the development of a competitive lower-carbon ammonia sector.”
Woodside’s acquisition of the BNA facility stems from its September 2024 purchase of 100 per cent of OCI Clean Ammonia Holding B.V.
The agreed all-cash consideration was approximately US$2.35 billion, including capital expenditure through completion.
Under the terms of the transaction, 80 per cent of the payment was made at the time of acquisition, while the remaining 20 per cent was settled upon Woodside’s assumption of operational control this month, subject to closing and other adjustments.
Ammonia production from BNA began in December 2025, marking a key step in Woodside’s alignment toward lower-carbon products.
However, the company indicated that the production of lower-carbon ammonia is now likely to occur after 2026, due to ongoing construction delays at a third-party feedstock supply facility.
The Beaumont facility, located near critical export infrastructure on the Gulf Coast, is positioned to play a crucial role in meeting growing global demand for ammonia.
In its current configuration, BNA produces conventional ammonia that can serve as both an industrial input and a potential future source of low-carbon hydrogen when utilised with carbon capture or renewable feedstocks.
Westcott highlighted that the project aligns strongly with Woodside’s longer-term diversification goals and complements its energy transition strategy, which includes investments in hydrogen and other lower-carbon energy sources.
Woodside continues to secure commercial agreements for ammonia produced at BNA.
The company has finalised offtake agreements at prevailing market prices for conventional ammonia and is negotiating additional contracts in line with expected production output for 2026.
As operational control transitions to Woodside, industry analysts note that BNA positions the company as both a major exporter and a future-ready player in the evolving global ammonia market.
The plant’s commissioning comes at a time when ammonia is increasingly viewed as an essential vector for decarbonising sectors such as shipping, energy storage, and fertiliser production.
With performance testing now complete and the facility under Woodside’s management, BNA is poised to contribute meaningfully to both the US export landscape and Woodside’s global energy transition ambitions.
