COLUMBUS, April 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today Governor John R. Kasich announced that PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC), Thailand's largest integrated petrochemical and refining company, and its project partner, Marubeni Corporation, a Japan-based company, have selected a site in Belmont County, Ohio for the possible construction of a world-scale petrochemical complex, also known in the industry as an ethane cracker. With a site now selected, PTTGC and Marubeni will take the next 12-to-16 months to complete the detailed engineering design and permitting at the Ohio site.  

For nearly two years, PTTGC and Marubeni have considered project sites across the Utica and Marcellus shale region. JobsOhio, the private, non-profit corporation designed to drive job creation and capital investment in Ohio, has worked with the companies throughout this time and led the effort to move this project forward in Ohio.

"Ohio is at the center of America's new energy industry, and the smart companies want to come here to be part of the great things that are happening. We are one step closer to landing a new, multi-billion dollar investment in eastern Ohio, and that's exciting news for our state, the region and Belmont County," said Kasich. "There is more work ahead before final decisions on this project are made, but I know our Ohio team will do everything we can to bring it fruition. We are excited about the possibility of working with companies of the caliber of PTTGC Global and Marubeni. A project of this size can help lift the region forever."

If constructed, the ethane cracker would utilize ethane extracted from the region's Marcellus and Utica Shale formations. The facility would then "crack" the ethane into ethylene, which is used as a basis for plastics and resins contained in everyday items such as food and product packaging, textiles and pharmaceuticals. 

"Working with JobsOhio and the state over the past two years has been a positive experience and we look forward to moving this project into the next phase," said Dr. Kongkrapan Intarajang, Executive Vice President of International Business Relations for PTTGC. "While we have not yet made final decisions on this investment, we will continue to work with Governor Kasich, JobsOhio and all of the local partners in an effort to make our vision a reality."

John Minor, President and Chief Investment Officer of JobsOhio, added, "This project has been a truly collaborative effort, resulting in this good news for eastern Ohio and the state.  JobsOhio's David Mustine and Matt Cybulski played leading roles working with PTTGC and Marubeni along with our regional partner Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth and local development partners.  I thank them for playing such integral roles in advancing the project to this point.  An ethane cracker in Belmont would facilitate additional investments in the growing shale and petrochemical industries, and with greater investments come more job opportunities for Ohioans."

PTTGC and Marubeni are expected to make a final investment decision in 2016.  Should the project move forward, construction of the ethane cracker facility would take an estimated three and a half years to complete.

About PTT Global Chemical

PTT Global Chemical PCL conducts its business in the Petrochemical and Chemical Sectors. It was ranked in the Top 10 of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for the second consecutive year and was ranked twenty-second among world-leading petrochemical companies on the ICIS Top 100 Chemical Companies listing. The company has seven main business lines and currently has the production capacity of chemical and petrochemical products of 8.8 million ton/year and the refinery capacity of crude oil and condensates of 280,000 Bbl/Day. In addition, it places high value on making investment to expand to specialties chemical products and green chemicals.

About Marubeni Corporation

Marubeni Corporation was founded in 1858 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Through its local and international network, Marubeni Corporation provides products and services in a broad range of sectors, encompassing import and export as well as transactions in the Japanese market, related to food materials, food products, textiles, materials, pulp and paper, chemicals, energy, metals, machinery, finance logistics, information technology, infrastructure development and a range of other fields, including resources development and investments on a global level.

About JobsOhio

JobsOhio is a private, non-profit corporation designed to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio through business attraction, retention, and expansion efforts. Learn more at jobs-ohio.com.

About APEG

The Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth (APEG) is one of six JobsOhio Regional Network Partners. APEG works to accelerate sustainable business growth, job creation and advancing the economy of Southeast Ohio.

SOURCE JobsOhio

Related Links

http://www.jobs-ohio.com