Gulfport, Miss. – Recently, Mississippi Power safely completed a major construction milestone at its Kemper County energy facility as plant construction nears the halfway mark. Installed was a section of the plant’s gasifier, which will be used to convert the plant’s affordable fuel source, lignite, into a synthesis gas to generate electricity.

“Installation of the gasifier marks a pivotal point in the construction phase of our project and the advancement of 21st century coal technology,” said Mississippi Power Vice President of Generation Development Tommy Anderson. “The electricity produced from this state-of-the art facility will have significant customer and environmental benefits.”

An abundance of Mississippi lignite located adjacent to the plant site will be gasified to create clean, reliable and affordable energy for customers for the next 40 years.

Emission controls are built into the coal gasification process. And, the project will capture at least 65 percent of the carbon dioxide produced, with resulting emissions comparable to a similarly sized natural gas plant.

The company has signed long-term contracts to sell the byproducts from the gasification process. Revenue from the sale of these byproducts will lower the overall costs for customers by approximately $50 million annually once the plant is in service.  

The project is a tremendous economic boost for Mississippi. It’s creating jobs – up to 3,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction and more than 300 permanent positions. And, more than 250 Mississippi companies are providing construction, equipment, material or professional services on the project. It is being built by Mississippians, for Mississippians.

One of those Mississippi companies is Contract Fabricators Incorporated (CFI) of Holly Springs. CFI manufactured the first of two installed sections of the gasifier. Weighing approximately 550 tons –which is equivalent to two Statues of Liberty–the gasifier is being lifted and installed by a 600-foot crane that was assembled on the plant site. The crane weighs nearly four million pounds and has a lift capacity of 1,500 tons.

Kemper County Energy Facility Quick Facts:

•  Powering Mississippi homes and businesses: Commercial operation of the 582-megawatt facility is expected to begin May 2014.

•  Preserving the environment: The plant will capture at least 65 percent of the carbon dioxide it produces, with the resulting carbon dioxide emissions comparable to a similarly sized natural gas plant. The plant will be a zero liquid discharge plant, protecting surrounding streams and rivers.

•  Securing Mississippi’s energy future: The plant will use Mississippi lignite as its fuel source. Lignite is abundant, affordable and not subject to highly volatile pricing swings and transportation costs associated with other fuel sources.

Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company, delivers clean, safe, reliable and affordable electric service to 186,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. Visit online at www.mississippipower.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mississippipower, or on Twitter @MS_Power.

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