Production. New Tennessee Valley Authority synthetic ammonia plant. Erection of a heater stack in the TVA's new synthetic ammonia plant in the Muscle Shoals area. Ammonia is made here by high-pressure synthesis of nitrogen and hydrogen and converted at Muscle Shoals to ammonium nitrate for use in the making of high explosive shells. In addition to the production of munitions, the TVA is engaged in research in many fields, seeking new sources of strategic materials and better ways to utilize them in the war effort