Motiva withdraws tax-break application for Texas petchem project

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Motiva Enterprises has withdrawn its application to receive tax breaks for a proposed petrochemical expansion project in Port Arthur, Texas, according to state documents.

Motiva had filed the Chapter 313 application back in 2018 with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

According to the application, the company would build a world-scale cracker as well as an aromatics project that would produce benzene and paraxylene (PX).

The application is now among a list of inactive agreements and projects, which the state updated on 15 June 2021. The list said the application was withdrawn, but it did not specify when.

Motiva declined to comment on Tuesday.

Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Motiva has suspended the project, quoting people familiar with the matter.

On Monday, Motiva declined to comment on that report.

Bloomberg reported that Motiva may revive the project in 2023.