Even as it continues to consider a major petrochemicals project, PTTGC America has announced it will build a recycling complex in Ohio.
PTTGCA, a unit PTT Global Chemical Public Co. Ltd of Thailand, has signed nonbinding memorandum of understanding with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio to locate the recycling complex on SWACO property in Grove City, Ohio, near Columbus.
In a news release, officials with PTTGCA said that a final investment decision will be made by the end of 2022. The firm also has signed a separate MOU with solid waste firm Rumpke for feedstock plastics.
"This project illustrates our commitment to fight climate change and contribute to a circular economy," PTTGCA CEO Panod Awaiwanond said. "It also reaffirms our commitment to the U.S. and the state of Ohio."
The complex will be an enclosed operation that recycles polyethylene and PET. It will be located in SWACO's Green Economy Business Park, which officials said is being developed to use research, technology and manufacturing for the sustainable materials supply chain.
"As SWACO continues to advance a more circular economy, we are constantly looking for ways in which materials from the local waste stream can be used to create economic development opportunities, supply sustainable businesses with materials and create new products for consumers," said Joe Lombardi, SWACO's executive director.
Since 2015, PTTGCA has spent more than $300 million on plans and site work for a proposed petrochemicals site that would include polyethylene resin production in Dilles Bottom, Ohio. A final decision on the project has been delayed several times. Daelim Industrial Co. Ltd. of South Korea withdrew from the project in mid-2020.
In March, PTTGCA repaid $20 million to Ohio's private economic development office after not making an investment decision in 2020 on the project. At that time, a company spokesman confirmed to Plastics News that the firm remains committed to building the multibillion-dollar project as it continues to seek an investment partner.
"PTTGCA is convinced this is a viable project, which is why the company continues to invest its time and resources into it," the spokesman said.
If the plant is built, it would be the second major PE resin complex to be built in the region to take advantage of shale gas feedstock. Shell Polymers will open a PE plant with 3 billion pounds of annual capacity in Monaca, Pa., this year. That site will be the first U.S. PE plant built outside of the Gulf Coast in at least 40 years.