Celanese considering another Texas methanol facility

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ICIS)–Celanese is considering building another methanol plant, this one in south Texas, the US-based chemical producer said on Monday.

Celanese said in a prepared statement that it is preparing to apply for the necessary environmental construction permits for a 1.3m tonne/year plant at the company’s Bishop site near Kingsville.

Earlier this year, Celanese received a permit to start construction of a methanol plant at its huge acetyls complex in Clear Lake, near Houston.

Celanese broke ground on the 1.4m tonne/year project earlier this year after receiving approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The project is a joint venture with Mitsui.

A race to cash in on cheap US natural gas has prompted at least a dozen new methanol plant announcements in the past two years that would restore the American methanol industry and eliminate the need for imports within a few years.

Celanese said it would also consider a joint venture partner for the Bishop project and would need economic incentives from government authorities.

The company’s Bishop facility makes specialty chemicals, engineered materials and pharmaceutical products.