Juniper GTL LLC will invest $100 million to renovate a dormant steam methane reformer in the Westlake, Louisiana area and convert it to a natural gas-to-liquids facility, producing clean waxes, drilling fluids, diesel and naptha.

Juniper GTL will create 29 at its plant. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the Westlake development will also result in an additional 112 new indirect jobs, for a total of 141 new jobs.

Gov. Bobby Jindal said, “Louisiana continues to be at the forefront of next-generation energy solutions, and we are proud to attract yet another great foreign investment in this key sector of our state’s economy. Louisiana has now attracted three major GTL project wins to the Southeast Region because of our great energy workforce, our world-class infrastructure and our strong business climate that is rapidly rising to the top. Juniper GTL could have built this project in Texas or other locations, but the company chose Louisiana because they know our state offers the most competitive site and workforce advantages in the world. Our commitment to raising Louisiana’s competitiveness continues to bring more great new career opportunities to the people of Louisiana every day.”

Venture partners SGC Energia SA of Portugal and Houston-based Great Northern Project Development LP conceived the Juniper GTL project to produce clean fuels in a safe and economical manner, LED said. As the first commercial GTL facility to start construction in the U.S., Juniper GTL will benefit from an integrated process solution that is industrially tested and supplied under the brand name XTLH by SGC Energia.

“We found in Louisiana the business environment we needed for Juniper GTL,” Juniper GTL LLC President Vianney Valès. “We are also receiving excellent support from the state and local authorities on questions related to the environment, which is a priority for us. As a result, we secured the air permit for the GTL plant in July, which allowed us to break ground this month.”

To secure the project, the state offered a competitive incentives package that includes the services of LED FastStart, the state’s workforce training program. The company also is expected to utilize the state’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.

“We welcome Juniper GTL to our region,” said President and CEO George Swift of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. “This development continues to increase Southwest Louisiana’s importance in producing energy for our nation and the world. It is powerful that yet another international firm is investing in Louisiana. This exciting technology will revitalize an existing facility and provide quality jobs.”