Woodside Energy to Buy Texas Ammonia Project for $2.35 Billion

Australia's Woodside Energy (WDS.AX) said on Monday it will acquire OCI Global's (OCI.AS) clean ammonia project in Texas for $2.35 billion as the energy firm advances its transition towards green energy.

The acquisition, which will provide Woodside with an early-mover advantage in the lower carbon ammonia market, comes as demand is expected to grow, with firms globally shifting towards cleaner forms of energy due to climate change.

"Global ammonia demand is forecast to double by 2050, with lower carbon ammonia making up nearly two-thirds of total demand," Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill said.

The project, which is currently under construction, targets the production of ammonia from 2025 and lower carbon ammonia from 2026 and will be earnings per share accretive from 2027, Woodside said.

Under the deal, OCI will manage the construction of the project, located in the U.S. Gulf Coast, until it is fully operational and then hand it over to Woodside, OCI said in a statement.

Phase one of the project will have a capacity of 1.1 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) and will offset 1.6 Mtpa of CO₂ equivalent, Woodside said.

In July, Woodside signed a $1.2 billion deal to buy LNG developer Tellurian (TELL.A), opens new tab and its U.S. Gulf Coast Driftwood project.

(Reporting by John Biju; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Sonia Cheema)