Turturnaround Napthacracker 4 plant in Geleen, Netherlands, owned by SABIC. Courtesy Photo
Two of the world’s biggest energy companies may soon be building a multibillion-dollar petrochemical complex in or near the Coastal Bend. San Patricio County, just over the bridge from Corpus Christi, is one of three locations being scouted by Exxon Mobil and Saudi Arabia Basic Industries Corp. Also under consideration are Victoria, Texas, and somewhere between Baton Rouge and New Orleans in Louisiana.
Slated to begin construction in 2018, the petrochemical plant would be completed sometime in 2020. A steam cracker plant, it would be capable of producing 1.8 million tons a year of ethylene. Steam cracker plants use steam to break natural gas into petrochemicals used to create plastics.
The companies are looking for undeveloped land as well as access to water and natural gas. In Louisiana, the area being considered is on the banks of the Mississippi River. Victoria has a strong industrial training program at its local community college.
San Patricio’s positives are extensive. Along with the Port of Corpus Christi, which is expanding to accommodate these big industrial complexes and their shipping demands, the Coastal Bend location is close to a cheap energy source in the Eagle Ford Shale. Del Mar College would also be available to provide worker training.
Exxon Mobil and SABIC are conducting studies that include working with local officials in all three locations. Exxon Mobil has similar factories in Baytown and Mount Belvieu. It has worked with SABIC over the last 35 years in major chemical joint ventures in Saudi Arabia.
