Calgon Carbon Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan-based Kuraray Co., Ltd., a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of coal-, wood- and coconut-based activated carbon products, will invest $185 million to expand capacity at its Port Bienville Industrial Park plant in Pearlington, Mississippi.

Calgon Carbon provides purification solutions for more than 700 distinct applications, including drinking water, wastewater, pollution abatement, and a variety of industrial and commercial manufacturing processes.

The expansion, which includes adding a second virgin activated carbon production line, is expected to increase its workforce by 38 associates for a total of 80 employees. When completed, Calgon Carbon’s virgin granular activated carbon capacity will exceed 200 million pounds per year.

“This expansion enables our activated carbon products to be more broadly used to clean the world’s air and water on an even larger scale,” said Steve Schott, Calgon Carbon’s President and CEO. “There is no better place for this expansion, we have always felt at home in Mississippi, and we appreciate the support and enthusiasm the state and local economic development leaders have shown us, and our parent company, Kuraray.”

The Pearlington plant, which sits on 100 acres within the Port Bienville Industrial Park, includes 200,000 square feet of production space. Once the expansion is complete, which is expected in late 2022, the facility will be approximately 400,000 square feet.

Calgon Carbon said it has been in conversation with the Mississippi Development Authority and the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission regarding this exciting project for several months. A final board decision on the plant expansion was granted on June 24 by Kuraray Co., Ltd., who completed its acquisition of Calgon Carbon in March 2018.

“Aptly positioned on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Calgon Carbon’s innovative products help industries and communities clean their air and water to protect our precious natural resources. This $185 million expansion will further boost production capacity, increasing investment in our natural resources for future generations,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “Tapping into our skilled workforce and creating 38 new jobs, I’m excited to see more Mississippians get to work and help make these important products that are used across our great nation and the world.”

“The innovative products manufactured by Calgon Carbon’s skilled workforce in Bay St. Louis position the company as a leader in making consumers’ water and air safer and cleaner. The addition of 38 new employees at the Hancock County facility will enable the company to continue pioneering the way in this essential sector,” said MDA Interim Director John Rounsaville.

“The Commission and our team at Port Bienville are proud of our 30-year relationship with Calgon Carbon. We competed against two other states for this investment and won,” said Bill Cork, CEO of the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission. “Our people and our relationships made the difference, and we are thrilled to be offered the opportunity to help our friends at Calgon Carbon continue their successful run here in Hancock County, Mississippi.”