ExxonMobil and SABIC (Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corp.) last month started construction of Gulf Coast Growth Ventures, joint venture for a chemical facility and 1.8 million metric ton-per-year ethane steam cracker in San Patricio County near Corpus Christi. Groundbreaking was held Sept. 13. The project received final environmental regulatory approval in June to proceed with construction. Darren Woods, chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, said, “Building the world’s largest steam cracker with state-of-the-art technology on the doorstep of rapidly growing Permian production gives this project significant scale and feedstock advantages.” Startup is expected in 2022.
The facility will produce materials used in the manufacturing of various consumer products, including automotive coolants, packaging, agricultural film and building, construction materials and clothing.