Belmont County Cracker Plant Moves Closer to Becoming a Reality

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Promises of a date for a final decision from PTT Global Chemical on whether it will build a proposed ethane cracker plant in Belmont County have fallen by the wayside in the past, but as time passes it seems any new news that crops up about the plant continues to indicate that it is more likely to be built.  Now a couple of new articles add to that possibility, including a report that Bechtel has been awarded a contract for construction on the plant and another that says a grant has been provided to improve rail services in connection with the project.

From ShaleDirectories.com:
We Have Confirmation! PTTGC Selected Bechtel. It’s not a RUMOR! I have heard from two individuals this week that confirms that Bechtel has been awarded the contract. The first person said that he heard from a CM at Bechtel they have been selected for the PTT project and are working through the contract currently. 
The second person informed me that Bechtel was making big equipment orders that were not related to the Shell cracker plant.
And from The Intelligencer:
The U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding $16 million in grant funds to improve 30 miles of existing railroad tracks in Belmont County.

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, said he believes the funding and the rail project could help to advance development of a proposed PTT Global Chemical America-Daelim ethane cracker plant in the Dilles Bottom area of Belmont County. 
He released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a grant award for the Ohio Rail Development Commission: “This is great news for our region, which is entering a new chapter for economic development, and very positive news for the proposed PTTGCA-Daelim ethane cracker. … Improving safety and capacity of the rail line will directly support job growth and private investment along the Ohio River, which is very welcome news for a region that too often is at the back of the line when it comes to federal spending. I was glad to lead an Ohio delegation letter to (USDOT) Secretary (Elaine) Chao to support this vital $16 million project.” 
PTT spokesman Dan Williamson agreed that the grant represents great news for Belmont County and said it would be good news for PTT as well, if the cracker project moves forward. 
Johnson, though, is optimistic about the grant’s impact on the companies’ future decision about whether to build the cracker plant.


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