NATCHEZ — Elevance has hired an engineering and construction firm for its Natchez project, and work is under way.

Elevance Renewable Sciences announced Wednesday the company had selected URS Corporation to provide engineering, procurement and construction services for its biorefinery in the Natchez-Adams County Port. URS has a location in Baton Rouge.

Elevance purchased the former Delta Biofuels facility and announced a commitment to bring 165 permanent jobs to Adams County in 2011.

The company has continued to maintain the biofuels operations at the facility, but the bulk of hiring will be made after construction for an expansion into specialty chemicals is completed.

A company spokesperson said some of the work on the expansion is already under way, and URS’ scope of work includes converting the biodiesel plant into the new biorefinery.

Elevance CEO K’Lynne Johnson said URS is a “natural partner” for the project.

“With our presence in Baton Rouge, near the site of the new biorefinery, URS is able to provide an engineering, procurement and construction solution to Elevance that features a local, experienced team and proven construction delivery,” URS Vice President and General Manager of Process Engineering Ken Martinez said. “URS’ expertise supporting clients worldwide with a variety of systems and processes makes us an ideal partner for Elevance’s latest biorefinery project.”

Natchez Inc. Executive Director Chandler Russ said he is excited to see the signal of the beginning of the project.

“It is a big milestone for us locally, as well as everybody involved,” he said. “It is a continued progress toward their goal of building their specialty chemial biorefinery in Natchez, and we are proud they have gone ahead and begun this process.”

Russ said the project is estimated to create 300 construction jobs at its height.

“Looking at the timeline they have been using, barring weather their plans are to deliver their product (from Natchez) in the 2016 year, which means there will be an 18-24 month construction cycle in there, which will be nice,” he said.

Elevance previously built a similar biorefinery in Gresik, Indonesia, in a joint venture with Wilmar International.

Company officials previously said many of those involved in the Natchez project were integral in getting the Gresik facility into full production.

The Natchez facility will produce novel specialty chemicals, including multifunctional esters such as 9-decenoic methyl ester; a unique distribution of bio-based alpha and internal olefins including decene; and a premium mixture of oleochemicals.

The chemicals, olefins and oleochemicals produced at the company’s biorefineries will be used in personal care products, detergents and cleaners, lubricants and additives, engineered polymers, and other specialty chemicals markets.