/EINPresswire.com/ -- BELFIELD, ND--(Marketwired - Oct 7, 2016) - Meridian Energy Group, Inc. today announced that the Company has submitted its Permit to Construct to the North Dakota Department of Health, Air Quality Division for its proposed Davis Refinery. This is the latest permit submission for Meridian, which received unanimous approval on its rezoning and conditional use permit from Billings County Board of Commissioners in July. Meridian, confident in its engineering and ability to comply with and exceed North Dakota's most stringent air quality regulations, submitted an application for a Minor Synthetic Source Permit for the 55,000 barrel-per-day high conversion crude oil refinery. This marks the first time in history that an application for an oil refinery of this complexity has been submitted as a Minor Synthetic Source. With this submission, Meridian remains on-track to have the Davis Refinery operational no later than early 2018.

Meridian CEO William C. Prentice said, "We are excited to take this next step in the process, as we continue to elevate and re-define the standards of a modern oil refinery. Our innovative design, equipment and the manner in which we have comprehensively integrated Best Available Control Technology will ensure that the Davis Refinery meets the strict air quality regulations put forth, and will remain compliant for years to come. Our state and our community should expect and accept nothing less."

Eddie Martinez, President and CEO of Zia Environmental Engineers & Consultants LLC., had this to say, "We are extremely excited to be working on a project such as this. There hasn't been a refinery of this magnitude built in the US, especially under such stringent guidelines, in decades. Meridian has shown a steadfast commitment to make this the most environmentally-sustainable refinery ever built. The way the plant is designed and the level of controls incorporated show a project that is dedicated to aggressively reducing its impact on the environment. It makes it easy working with a company like Meridian who is so willing to support and pursue making this as environmentally-clean a project we have ever worked on. This project will undoubtedly create a standard within the industry how companies will effectively control emissions."

Executives at engineering partner firm, Vepica USA, were also confident in the submission. "Vepica's long-standing knowledge of refining processes coupled with an understanding of the Federal and North Dakota regulatory environment has allowed our engineering team to evaluate and optimize plant design," said Andreina Pena-Isea, Environmental Engineering Manager at Vepica USA. "It will also enable us to meet product specification while including the proper selection of emission control technology to satisfy strict air quality standards without hindering the economics of the project."

Thomas Johnson, Meridian's Chief Operations Officer, added, "Davis Clean Technology has been tested and proven to greatly increase our ability to control and reduce emissions. The team has put much thought and work into coming up with many great innovative ideas and technologies that put reducing emissions as a top priority. We are all very excited and proud to be a part of this refinery project, and will continue to think of ways we may reduce emissions even more."

About Meridian
The Mission of Meridian Energy Group, Inc. is to provide long-term shareholder value through the development and operation of the cleanest, most efficient and environmentally compliant crude oil refineries in the world, benefiting the community and its investors. Established in 2013, Meridian is led by energy industry experts with a combined 500 years of world-class expertise in energy & hydrocarbon processing, project development, finance, and large capital project management. Meridian Energy Group, Inc. current headquarters is located in Belfield, ND.

For more information, visit: http://www.meridianenergygroupinc.com