$400 million soybean crush plant planned for Grand Forks, North Dakota

Plans have been unveiled for another major soybean crush plant to be built in North Dakota.

Epitome Energy LLC has announced the construction of a US$400 million facility on the north side of Grand Forks, North Dakota — approximately 120 km (75 miles) south of Emerson, Manitoba.

It marks the third — and most northerly — soybean crush facility to be announced in the state in the last 18 months, with work also underway on large crush plants at Spiritwood (near Jamestown) and at Casselton (west of Fargo).

The Epitome plant at Grand Forks will be designed to process up to 42 million bushels of soybeans per year, the company says.

“This project will put more money in the pockets of hardworking farmers in the Red River Valley region by helping them reach more markets to meet the growing demand for soybeans,” says Epitome founder and CEO Dennis Egan, in a news release.

In a presentation to Grand Forks City Council on Monday, Egan explained demand for soybean oil is being driven by growth in renewable diesel capacity. The company plans to market meal to the hog sector north of the border in Manitoba.

“It will be the closest soybean processing facility to the north or to the Canadian hog industry,” he noted.

The company plans to begin construction in the summer of 2023, with operations to begin in the fall of 2025, pending all the necessary approvals.

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