Agreement with Cora Terminal contemplates up to two commercial FASForm™ plants on a deep-water river terminal with unit-train rail and barge access, establishing Frontieras’ third commercial site and its first in the Midwest
HOUSTON, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN – Frontieras North America (“Frontieras” or the “Company”), the energy and environmental technology company commercializing FASForm™ Solid Carbon Fractionation, today announced it has entered into a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) with Cora Terminal, LLC for the phased development of FASForm™ production capacity at the Cora Terminal in Rockwood, Illinois. Cora Terminal is a joint venture between Watco Companies, LLC, and SCH Services, LLC.
The LOI establishes a defined framework for site due diligence, engineering, permitting, and the negotiation of a long-term ground lease and transportation services agreement. Under the contemplated structure, Frontieras would lease approximately 85 acres for an initial FASForm™ plant, expanding to approximately 130 acres to accommodate a second plant in a later phase. Each plant is designed to process 7,500 tons of coal feedstock per day on a continuous 24/7 basis.
At full two-plant buildout, the site would receive approximately 5.5 million net tons of coal feedstock annually by unit train and ship a slate of high-value outbound products by barge, rail, and truck — including FASCarbon™ (thermal coke), ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) and jet fuel, ammonium sulfate fertilizer, sulfuric acid, and naphtha.
Executive Statements
“Cora Terminal is a high-capacity unit train facility that has long served as a vital gateway for coal mines in the Illinois Basin and beyond to domestic and international markets through the Mississippi River. We are excited to leverage our material handling expertise and infrastructure, positioning Frontieras to realize the full value of this uniquely positioned facility and respond to evolving coal-related energy needs.”
— John Hunt Jr., Chief Executive Officer, SCH Services
“Watco’s breadth of experience across our rail and terminal network gives us both the knowledge and capabilities to support complex projects from the ground up, as we work to fuel opportunities for customer growth and expansion. Cora Terminal is a great example of how we can leverage both Watco’s and SCH’s core strengths to build on an established, high-capacity operation, and create something with lasting benefit. We’re excited to support both Cora and Frontieras as this project moves forward.”
— Marc B. Massoglia, Senior Vice President – Commercial, Watco Terminal & Ports
“Cora has everything FASForm needs: rail, barge, bulk handling, and Illinois Basin coal in one place, as one of the best-positioned industrial sites on the inland waterway system. Watco and SCH reliably move bulk commodities every day, so we can focus on what we do best: convert the coal.”
— Andrea Moran, Chief Commercial Officer, Frontieras North America
Why Cora?
Cora Terminal is a strategically positioned, high-capacity multimodal terminal on the Mississippi River in Rockwood, Illinois, offering year-round river access and direct connectivity for both rail and inland waterway transportation. The terminal accommodates up to four-unit trains simultaneously, features a high-capacity rotary dump capable of moving more than 4,000 tons of product per hour, and its own shifting and fleeting service on the river. This provides the throughput capacity and flexibility needed to support Frontieras’ large-scale operational requirements.
The terminal has demonstrated its ability to handle significant volumes and has the capability to move more than 11 million tons of coal annually through the facility. Its location and design help protect the terminal from both high- and low-water conditions that can restrict operations at other river terminals, allowing it to support continuous operations throughout the year.
Cora owns over 300 acres of developable land surrounding the terminal, providing Frontieras with the opportunity to establish its initial FASForm™ plant while preserving room for future growth. Much of the terminal’s existing coal and coke handling infrastructure is already in place, materially reducing the greenfield infrastructure required for the contemplated development.
The Cora project is Frontieras’ third announced commercial site, following the Company’s $850 million first commercial facility currently under construction on approximately 184 acres in Mason County, West Virginia. The two sites use the same FASForm™ plant configuration, allowing Frontieras to carry engineering, procurement and operational learning directly from Mason County into the Midwest.
The combination of established high-volume material handling capabilities, reliable year-round river access, unit-train capacity, and significant development potential makes Cora Terminal a strong platform for Frontieras’ planned Midwest expansion.
Economic Impact in Southern Illinois
A two-plant buildout at Cora would represent a significant capital investment in southern Illinois and create substantial employment across both the construction and operating phases. Construction would draw on regional building trades over a multiyear period, and each operating plant requires a permanent, round-the-clock skilled workforce — operators, maintenance technicians, instrumentation and electrical trades, and terminal personnel — alongside expanded rail and barge handling staffing at the terminal itself. Frontieras’ comparable facility under construction in Mason County, West Virginia, is projected to support approximately 2,000 construction-phase jobs and roughly 200 contract and permanent operating positions at a single-plant scale.
The project would also create durable regional demand for Illinois Basin coal, supporting mining employment across the surrounding coal-producing counties. Specific job counts and investment figures for Cora will be confirmed as engineering and site scope are finalized.
Next Steps
Under the LOI, the parties will jointly pursue state and local economic development engagement, utility and infrastructure assessment, site layout and rail design, environmental permitting, and definitive lease and transportation agreements. Frontieras will be responsible for permitting, construction, and operation of the FASForm™ plants; Cora Terminal will handle rail and barge movements, transloading, and bulk material handling.
The LOI is an expression of mutual intent and is not a binding commitment to proceed. Any binding obligations would arise only upon the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements, which remain subject to due diligence, permitting, financing, and required approvals.
“This relationship with Watco at the Cora terminal represents a significant way to expand and leverage the existing infrastructure, while elevating local job markets and stimulating the local economy. The hardworking people of this Southern Illinois community are themselves a great natural resource and we look forward to expanding abundant opportunities.”
— Matthew McKean, CEO, Frontieras North America
About the Technology
FASForm™ is Frontieras’ patented Solid Carbon Fractionation process. Rather than burning coal, FASForm™ thermally disassembles it in a reducing atmosphere through a continuous, closed-loop process, yielding FASCarbon™ (thermal coke), ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD), naphtha, kerosene and jet fuel, hydrogen-rich FASGas™, sulfuric acid, and ammonium sulfate fertilizer. Because there is no combustion, the process produces no direct CO₂ emissions at the point of conversion, achieves an approximately 97% reduction in sulfur oxide emissions and effectively eliminates airborne mercury relative to conventional coal combustion, and requires no expensive catalysts. The technology is protected by an international patent portfolio spanning five continents.
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About Frontieras North America
Frontieras North America is an energy and environmental technology company redefining the entire global sector of coal utilization. Through its patented FASForm™ Solid Carbon Fractionation technology, Frontieras converts coal and other hydrocarbons into clean fuels, fertilizers, and industrial chemicals through a zero-waste process. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the Company is constructing its first commercial-scale facility in Mason County, West Virginia. Frontieras recently completed its Regulation A+ public offering. For company news, announcements, and future updates, visit frontieras.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company’s business strategy, the commercialization of its FASForm™ technology, the development of its facility in Mason County, West Virginia, and its future growth and governance plans. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, among others, the Company’s ability to successfully commercialize its technology, obtain necessary financing and regulatory approvals, attract and retain key personnel, and manage risks associated with a development-stage enterprise. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
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