China-based Yuhuang Chemical Inc. announced a $1.85 billion capital investment in a world-scale methanol manufacturing plant in Vacherie, La. Along with the Sasol gas-to-liquid plant and Benteler Steel/Tube project nearby, it will be one of the largest construction projects in Louisiana in the next five years.
The Chinese company has entered into an agreement to purchase 1,100 acres for a three-phase project next to the Plains All-American Pipeline terminal. The first to phases will cover the construction of two separate methanol plants with a combined annual capacity of 3 million metric tons. The third phase will include a methanol derivatives plant.