Axiall Corp. announced Thursday it has selected the state of Louisiana as the site of a proposed ethylene cracker and related derivatives plant. Pending the participation of a financial partner, the total investment could reach $3 billion. Axiall will await board approval as it enters the permitting process and initiates certain front-end engineering design activities. Approval of such a project would be welcome news for Louisiana, which saw Shell scrap its plans for a GTL facility in Ascension Parish earlier this month. Axiall currently has facilities in Lake Charles and Plaquemine, La. The company said in a news release commercial operation could begin as soon as 2018 if the project moves forward.
Photo: Axiall Corp.