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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

LyondellBasell Plans High Density Polyethylene Plant In La Porte, Texas

09/09/2016
LyondellBasell, one of the world's largest plastics, chemical and refining companies, selected its La Porte, Texas, manufacturing complex as the site for a new High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Plant.

The plant will be the first commercial plant to employ LyondellBasell's new proprietary Hyperzone PE technology and will have an annual capacity of 1.1 billion pounds (500,000 metric tons). The project is expected to create as many as 75 full time positions. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2017 with start-up planned for 2019.

"This project represents the next generation of technology," said Bob Patel, LyondellBasell CEO/Chairman of the Management Board. "This location is ideal for this facility because of the feedstock advantage we enjoy, the ability to ship product around the world and, most importantly, the outstanding workforce that the Gulf Coast has to offer." Located on the south shore of the Houston Ship Channel, LyondellBasell's La Porte complex spans 540 acres and produces ethylene, propylene, Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) and Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE).

The thermoplastics are used to manufacture a wide variety of plastic products used in everyday life such as bottles, bags, containers, toys, food packaging, healthcare articles, automotive applications and industrial packaging.

The La Porte complex is also the primary location for LyondellBasell's Acetyls business with an integrated chain of manufacturing units producing methanol, acetic acid and vinyl acetate monomer (VAM). VAM is used in household latex paint, adhesives, food packaging, wire and cable coatings and automotive safety glass.

HDPE is one of the most versatile plastics because it is lightweight, yet very strong; impact resistant; weather resistant; it can be molded into almost any shape and is widely recyclable, company officials said.

The Hyperzone PE project is part of LyondellBasell's ongoing growth plan, officials explained. Recently, the company completed work on ethylene expansion projects at the La Porte and Channelview sites in Texas. A third ethylene expansion project is currently underway in Corpus Christi, Texas. Additionally, development of a world scale propylene oxide and tertiary butyl alcohol (PO/TBA) plant at the company's Channelview site is progressing.

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