Expert says long-delayed PTT petrochemical plant will be built

PITTSBURGH — One of the region’s best-known advocates of the Appalachian petrochemical industry says the pandemic has delayed petrochemical development here but he expects the long-delayed PTT Global Chemicals ethane cracker to move ahead.

PTT, a Thailand-based petrochemical company, has been working for nearly a decade on the construction in Belmont County, Ohio of what would be the second ethane cracker in Appalachia beyond the Shell Chemicals Appalachia plant that is nearly complete in Potter Township, Beaver County. But PTT has repeatedly delayed a final investment decision on the $10 billion project, most recently after losing its business partner, Daelim, in 2020.

But Charlie Schliebs, founder and chair of the Northeast Petrochemical Development Conference and managing director of Pittsburgh-based Stone Pier Capital Advisors, said that even with the setbacks, he believes the project will be a go.