BEULAH - The anhydrous ammonia plant at Dakota Gasification Co. in Mercer County will go back into production today or Wednesday.

The byproduct plant was shut down in February because demand was low and natural gas prices were high, making it more lucrative to produce synthetic natural gas than anhydrous ammonia, a farm fertilizer.

Natural gas is a major component of anhydrous ammonia, but other plant chemicals go into the mix.

DGC spokesman Daryl Hill said a downward spike in natural gas prices, plus an increasing seasonal demand were two reasons to put the anhydrous plant back on line.

Another factor for the temporary lull in anhydrous production was lack of additional storage.

Hill said DGC's on-site storage, and rail transport cars on the siding, were at 100 percent capacity, but sales in anticipation of spring farm application mean the product is starting to move out.

DGC has several wholesale customers for its anhydrous ammonia, including Cenex. At full capacity, the plant produces about 1,000 tons daily.

The anhydrous plant was modified last year so it could be safely shut down in cold weather and restarted.

"There will be times down the road when it's shut down for extended periods," Hill said. "What we didn't have before was the mechanical capability to shut it down in the winter."

Six anhydrous plant employees were temporarily assigned to other process areas in the meantime, Hill said.