MDU Resources Group Inc. (MDU) and Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP said May 4 that the Dakota Prairie greenfield fuels refinery began producing diesel fuel and will begin diesel sales the plant ramps up.

The Dickinson, N.D. refinery processes 20,000 barrels per day (Mbbl/d) of Bakken crude, and up to 7Mbbl/d of diesel will be sold from the plant to North Dakota-based customers.

MDU Resources and Calumet are joint owners and operators of the refinery.

David L. Goodin, president and CEO, said more than two-thirds of North Dakota’s diesel is brought into the state.

The greenfield refinery is the first built in the country since 1976, MDU said. Construction began March 26, 2013 on a 318-acre site about four miles west of Dickinson in southwest North Dakota.

The plant’s total cost is between $425 million to $435 million, and there are about 80 employees.

The refinery will also produce up to 6,500 bbl/d of the diluent naphtha, up to 6Mbbl/d of atmospheric tower bottoms and other products.

MDU Resources Group Inc. is based in Bismarck, N.D.

Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP is based in Indianapolis.