Conference highlights Kemper, enhanced oil recovery

Energy experts from around the world gathered in Jackson March 6 to discuss the future

of carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and its growth in the U.S. energy industry.

The Kemper County energy facility, which will capture at least 65 percent of its carbon dioxide or CO2 emissions to be used in EOR, was a main topic of discussion.

“I am very excited to see the projects we are seeing now like the Kemper facility,” said Kenneth Nemeth, executive director of the Southern States Energy Board. “There is more than one revenue stream from a power plant. You can have CO2 as a new business model.”

In his opening remarks, Governor Phil Bryant highlighted Mississippi’s commitment to being a leader in the energy sector.

“Today the U.S. produces more oil and gas than any other nation in the world and ener

gy jobs are some of the highest paying jobs in Mississippi,” said Bryant. “It is amazing the success we are having with enhanced oil recovery in Mississippi.”

Following Thursday’s conference in Jackson, several attendees, including members of the Navajo Nation, travelled to Kemper County for a tour of the plant and mine.

“We have more than 90 billion tons of coal reserves across the Navajo Nation, so we are looking at our options,” said Johnny Naize, speaker of the Navajo Nation Council. “What we saw today was simply awesome. The construction, the amount of employment and the benefits to this county and the state will provide a bright future for Mississippi.”

The visit by the Navajo Nation continues the work of the Southern Generation Technology group, which is marketing the Transport Integrated Gasification technology that will be used at Kemper, to countries and energy companies around the world.

“The publicity about this project is spreading across the globe,” said Kerry Bowers, Southern Company technical licensing director. “From China to Indonesia to Europe, there’s still a big interest in coal utilization. We’ve been in conference rooms in China and the only words I understand are ‘Kemper’ and ‘Mississippi,’ so they’re talking about this project.”