Total: Ethane cracker project decision made in ‘17 – Total Petrochemicals says it disputes published reports that suggest the company has not yet decided on investing on construction of an ethane cracker -Total Ethane cracker project - Arhive

Staff reports

Total Petrochemicals says it disputes published reports that suggest the company has not yet decided on investing on construction of an ethane cracker in Port Arthur.

“Total did make its final investment decision in 2017 to build the ethane steam cracker in Port Arthur and we are working with Borealis and Nova to finalize agreements that would lead to the creation of a new joint venture,” said Total spokeswoman Camille Briggs in an issued statement Friday afternoon.

S&P Global Platts reported recently that the final decision for the project would not be made until 2018. The Port Arthur News cited that story in a news report Monday and Tuesday.

“The story seems to mislead that we have not taken this decision,” said Briggs, who said Total has asked S&P Global Platts and the Port Arthur News to set the record straight.

The Port Arthur News reported that Platts wrote that Total continues to work with NOVA Chemicals of Canada and Borealis of Austria on final agreements on the project. It also cited media reports from March 2017 that said the $1.7 billion project would provide a base ingredient for plastics from natural gas.

The company would receive a variety of steep tax discounts from local governments, including the city of Port Arthur and Port Neches-Groves schools.

Last March, Total said in a news release from Paris that it would hold a 50 percent interest in the project, which was tentatively scheduled for a 2020 start-up.

The project would be built at Total’s Port Arthur Refinery.

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