Oil giant ExxonMobil, which produces a range of high-quality oil-based products including Mobiltemp SHC 100 and Mobilgear 600 XP 68, has confirmed that it is working with a Saudi firm in plans to erect a huge new petrochemical plant to the north of Corpus Christi, San Patricio County, Texas.
Arrangements for the new multi-billion-dollar plant are moving ahead as part of a joint project between the Saudi Arabia Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and ExxonMobil, despite some opposition from communities in the general area of the new site. However, should the plan not come to fruition, there are still three alternative sites that ExxonMobil and SABIC could choose from, including two in the state of Louisiana and one close to Victoria.
Speaking to Fuelfix.com, Susan LeBourdais, a spokeswoman for SABIC, said:
“San Patricio County is the preferred site. However, the three other potential locations are still under consideration. The project is advancing study of the San Patricio site.”
The two companies have put in applications to go ahead with the project with the Gregory-Portland Independent School District.
If the project does eventually go ahead, it will be set in 1,400 acres just outside the limits of Portland City, just under two miles away from a high school in the county.
The plant, if built, would feature the biggest ethane cracker in the world. This is used to turn natural gas into ethylene, which is the main component of the vast majority of plastics. The site would also be used for the purpose of manufacturing plastics.