Frontieras Closes On Ohio River Property

Frontieras North America, a clean hydrocarbon technology company, has closed on the purchase of 183 acres along the Ohio River north of Point Pleasant, W.Va., where it plans to build its first commercial coal reformation facility.

In its announcement released January 19, Frontieras said the site will be the first commercial-scale deployment of FASForm, a patented clean hydrocarbon process that transforms coal into fuels, fertilizers and industrial carbon products with zero waste and no emissions. The project is expected to create more than 2,000 construction jobs and more than 200 full-time positions in Mason County and surrounding areas.

The property has more than one mile of river frontage on the Ohio River. It will be developed for barge transport of coal feedstock and outbound refined products. One mile of Class I rail access via CSX will allow nationwide and export movement of fuels, carbon and fertilizer. The infrastructure also provides proximity to abundant regional coal reserves and skilled labor across Appalachia, the company said.

The site is across the river from the coal-burning Kyger Creek and Gavin power plants.

“West Virginia gave us every reason to build here—natural resources, world-class logistics and a government that understands the importance of industrial growth,” said Matthew McKean, CEO and co-founder of Frontieras North America. “This is exactly the kind of environment where breakthrough energy projects should be built.”

Frontieras’ FASForm platform aims to use a patented solid carbon fractionation system that turns coal and other volatile-rich hydrocarbons into clean, high-yield fuels, carbon and industrial chemicals.

Frontieras’ website says it expects its first FASForm plant to yield 2.3 barrels of refined liquid fuels per ton of coal (more than 15,000 barrels per day); more than 20 million standard cubic feet per day of hydrogen; FASCarbon, a low-sulfur, high-efficiency solid carbon used in steel, cement and thermal power; ammonium sulfate fertilizer and sulfuric acid produced from repurposed otherwise “waste products”; and a zero-waste, zero-discharge operation, with no emissions into air, water or soil.

Frontieras selected the Mason County, W.Va., site over competing locations in Texas and Wyoming. The company said it plans to pursue additional expansion opportunities across the state and in the Appalachian region.

“We are excited to welcome Frontieras North America and its state-of-the-art project to Mason County,” West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said in a news release. “This investment demonstrates that West Virginia’s workforce and business climate can attract world-class companies and investments.”

“Frontieras is completely aligned with our 50 by 50 energy plan and our red tape-cutting strategy,” Morrisey continued. “This terrific announcement for West Virginia will create so many high-paying jobs and economic growth.”

Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., who was governor when Frontieras announced its interest in West Virginia, also released a statement. “It is fantastic to see the progress Frontieras North America has made in Mason County. We knew this project would be a home run when we first announced this investment over three and a half years ago. Keep up the good work, West Virginia!”