Sasol updates ethane cracker project numbers

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Sasol officials confirmed Wednesday that the South African company has hired 200 of the 500 expected employees for its southwest Louisiana project, with full plant operation expected in 2018.

The final investment decision was announced a year ago on the $8.9 billion ethane cracker and derivatives complex in Westlake, near Lake Charles.

“We are delivering on our commitment to hire Louisiana workers and use Louisiana businesses first for our contracting and procurement needs,” Mike Thomas, senior vice president of Sasol North American Operations, said in a news release. “A local workforce and contractor support team with experience and strong ties to our community adds considerable value to our operations and helps strengthen the local economy.”

Those hired include operators, processors, engineers, laboratory analysts, chemists as well as operations and maintenance personnel.

Regional and state officials have been working since 2014 to prepare a local workforce with courses offered at McNeese State University and Sowela Technical Community College. There are job opportunities in the operational and construction phases of the project.

Sasol said 80 percent of the new hires are from Calcasieu Parish, while the majority of the remaining hires come from nearby parishes.

Ongoing construction includes 5,000 temporary workers, 3,300 of which are currently working. Sasol’s plans, which are one aspect of more than $80 billion worth of capital investments in southwest Louisiana, have spurred housing concerns in the 5-parish region. Temporary worker villages, or “man camps,” have sparked controversy among local residents.

In the news release, Sasol touted spending more than $250 million with Louisiana suppliers for materials and equipment. About $70 million of which is with Calcasieu Parish suppliers.

Site preparation and construction has been underway since last year.

Ethane “cracking” is the process of converting molecules of ethane extracted from natural gas into ethylene. This process is one of the cores of the petrochemical industry. The facility will produce about 1.5 million tons of ethylene per year. It will create products such as synthetic fibers, detergents, fragrances, paints, film and packaging.

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