LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — Construction has started on a $3 billion chemical manufacturing project in Lake Charles.
Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says LACC LLC, a joint venture of Lotte Chemical and Axiall Corp., will build a $1.9 billion ethane cracker complex near Axiall's existing manufacturing plants in Calcasieu Parish. Using a portion of ethylene produced by that plant, Lotte Chemical will produce monoethylene glycol at a $1.1 billion plant constructed beside the ethane cracker.
Pierson said in a news release the projects will create 215 new jobs.
With its project, Axiall will retain 1,600 existing workers in the Lake Charles area, and the company estimates 2,000 construction jobs will be created at peak building activity for the new plants.
Both plants are expected to begin operating in 2019.
