Ciner Wyoming
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mining, chemicals |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Stauffer Chemical |
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Products | Soda ash products |
| Owner | Ciner Holding |
Ciner Wyoming LLC operates as a mining and chemical enterprise situated in Wyoming, specializing in the extraction of natural soda ash derived from trona deposits. Initially established in 1962, the company has been under the ownership of the Turkish conglomerate Ciner Holding since 2015.
Background
The company began operations in 1962 under the name Big Island Mine and Refinery, established by the Stauffer Chemical Company to produce soda ash from trona ore. Transitioning to continuous mining methods occurred in 1984. The ownership history includes acquisition by Chesebrough in 1985, followed by a sale to British firm Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in 1986, and subsequently to French corporation Rhône-Poulenc in 1987. In 1996, OCI Chemical Corporation, a subsidiary based in South Korea, assumed control. Automation enhancements in 1998 expanded production capacity by approximately one million tons. The introduction of dual fuel calcination technology took place in 2007, while a Decahydrate plant implemented in 2009 improved operational efficiency by recovering soda ash from tailings. The company was publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker OCIR beginning in 2013.
In 2015, Turkish-based Ciner Enterprises Inc., part of Ciner Holding, acquired OCI Chemical Corporation and subsequently rebranded it as Ciner Resources Corporation. Natural Resource Partners maintains a 49% ownership interest in Ciner Wyoming LLC.
Plant and production
Situated in Green River, Wyoming, Ciner Wyoming extracts trona through room and pillar mining techniques across an area of approximately , with an additional allocated zone for surface facilities. The Green River Basin contains the world's largest underground trona deposit noted for its exceptional purity. Mining operations reach depths between , supported by proven and probable reserves amounting to , which corresponds to an estimated soda ash volume of —sufficient to sustain production for more than six decades at current output levels.
Soda ash produced serves as a fundamental input across various sectors: glass manufacturing accounts for 47% of consumption, chemicals represent 30%, soap production comprises 7%, and paper manufacturing also utilizes significant quantities. The company's product portfolio extends to sodium percarbonate and hydrogen peroxide, which are key components in detergent and soap formulations.
Key global competitors include Tronox (United States), Solvay S.A. (Belgium), Tata Chemicals (India), and Searles Valley Minerals (United States). Additionally, Ciner Holding owns Turkish soda ash producers Eti Soda and Kazan Soda Elektrik.
See also
- Ciner Glass and Chemicals Group
- Mining companies of the United States
- Chemical companies of the United States
- Chemical plants
- Industrial buildings and structures in Wyoming
- Industrial buildings completed in 1962
- Chemical companies established in 1962
- Non-renewable resource companies established in 1962
- 2015 establishments in Wyoming
- Privately held companies based in Wyoming
- Green River, Wyoming
- American companies established in 1962