QatarEnergy and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company (CPChem) marked the ground breaking of the Golden Triangle Polymers Plant in Orange County, in the US State of Texas, marking the beginning of construction of the $8.5 billion world-scale petrochemical facility.
Delivering remarks on behalf of HE Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, QatarEnergy's Executive Vice President, Surface Development & Sustainability Ahmad Saeed Al Amoodi said: "For over two decades, we have worked hand in hand with Chevron Phillips Chemical to satisfy the growing demand for innovative petrochemical products, which not only constitute a significant portion of our daily lives, but also play a role in shaping how we live. In this partnership, we are also working together to enable balanced growth and to facilitate human development in a responsible and sustainable manner."
Highlighting the local impact of the new facility, Al Amoodi said: "The Orange community is a direct beneficiary of this strategic partnership. We are investing $8.5 billion to build this world-scale facility, which is QatarEnergy's second largest investment in the US after the more than $11 billion investment in the Golden Pass LNG production and export facility, which is currently under construction about 35 miles from here in Sabine Pass, Texas. This plant will also be, by far, the most significant economic investment in the Orange community in decades, creating jobs and supporting economic growth."
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the Manager at Chevron Phillips Chemical Craig Lemons said that he is excited at the Golden Triangle Polymers project, stressing that it is something transformational for Orange County and a continuation of more than 20 years of collaboration with QatarEnergy.
"I actually had the opportunity to work in Qatar from 2001 to 2009. It was great. We are excited to be partnered up with QatarEnergy again to bring products that the world needs both from the Golden Triangle of Texas and also from Qatar to the world," he added.
For his part, Orange County Judge John Gothia told QNA that the partnership between QatarEnergy and CPChem in Orange County is important for the community in the state, in terms of the number of employees and the number of families it is going to support.
Orange County judge considered that the ground breaking of the project is a great opportunity for Orange County and the United States in general, and for this project to be here. "We are proud to be chosen as the site for this new location. We want to support it in any way we can. We are excited to have you all here," he added.
The landmark event was attended by Senior QatarEnergy Executives as well as the President and CEO of Chevron Phillips Chemical Bruce Chinn, the President and CEO of Phillips 66 Mark Lashier, in addition to a number of local officials.
Located about 180 kilometres east of Houston, the plant will include an ethylene cracker unit with a capacity of 2.08 million tons per annum, making it the largest in the world, and two high-density polyethylene units with a combined capacity of 2 million tons per annum, also making them the largest derivatives units of their kind in the world. The plant is expected to start up in 2026 and will be owned by Golden Triangle Polymers Company LLC, a joint venture in which QatarEnergy holds a 49% equity interest with 51% held by CPChem.
