Lost In Translation -- Construction To Begin In 2023 -- Nope, That's Not What "We" Said -- September 23, 2023

Locator: 45563GTL.

Question? Whatever happened to that greenfield GTL plant planned for Trenton, ND? I really don't know. Construction was slated to begin in 2023. Link here.

From the Williston Herald, January 13, 2023, the project remains on track. Archived.

A multi-billion-dollar gas-to-liquids (GTL) complex slated for construction in Williams County remains on track, according to a Cerilon GTL ND spokesperson. The Canadian company reportedly was provided $9 million in combined loan assistance from the ND Department of Commerce and Williams County.

In 2021 it was reported Cerilon received a $6 million no-interest loan, authorized by Williams County commissioners, to construct a GTL plant in Trenton.

The Calgary, Alberta-based company also received $3 million in capital from the North Dakota Development Fund, as announced by Gov. Doug Burgum and the state's Department of Commerce more than two years ago.

A 2021 press release issued by the governor's office stated "construction will commence in early 2023" on the Trenton-based plant. However, a Cerilon spokesperson recently clarified that financing for the project is not expected to be completed until 2025, which means groundbreaking will not occur before then.

"We're just in the middle of engineering and won't be breaking ground until 2025," Cerilon Sustainability and Engagement Director Rochelle Harding said.

"The project is progressing as planned with engineering and permitting work underway," Harding wrote to the governor's office in an email provided to the Williston Herald.

"Cerilon is establishing commercial arrangements and financing for the facility with a targeted Final Investment Decision (FID) in mid-2025," Harding wrote. "Construction is expected to start in 2025 with commercial start up in 2028."

A Nov. 2, 2021 Williams County press release made clear the $6 million regional "loan proceeds are intended to be used towards engineering, licensor input, engineering surveys, project specialists' inputs, project service providers and reports related to the project."

Williams County Commissioner Steve Kemp (District #2), a supporter of the project, stated in 2021, "Not only is this an incredible opportunity in itself for a GTL plant to operate in Williams County, but it sets the stage for future industrial and petrochemical development."

As proposed in 2021, the Williams County-based Cerilon plant is expected to produce products derived from natural gas including an estimated 24,000 barrels per day of ultra-low sulfur diesel and possible military-grade jet fuel.

*****************************
Speaking Of GTL

Each amino acid has a DNA code consisting of three codons, made of up "G," "T", "A," and "C."  [RNA varies slightly.]

So, for example:

1. glycine: GGT, plus others
2. tyrosine: TAT, plus others
3. glutamine: CAA, plus one other

A "mutation" occurs when a letter changes that changes the amino code.

So, for example, if one was writing a story about the GTL plant and mistakenly googled GTO ... well ... you know where this is headed ... to a musical interlude ...

If the Beatles had not shown up and messed things up we certainly would have had a "Chevy Nova SS" song.