INSTITUTE, W.Va. — Groundbreaking is set for Wednesday on a new methanol production plant in Kanawha County. U.S. Methanol announced plans to break ground on the Liberty One facility in the Institute community.
The plant is expected to be in operation in the second half of 2018. At full production, the plant is expected to produce 200,000 metric tons of methanol annually. The facility, according to company officials, will create about 50 permanent jobs in the region.
U.S. Methanol announced plans for the creation of the plant in May of 2017. The equipment is being relocated from a site in Brazil to the Kanawha Valley. It will produce methanol feed stock for the chemical industry in the Northeast United States and mid-Atlantic region. Company officials chose the Kanawha Valley for its proximity to customers as well as abundant natural gas reserves in the region.