A company called West Virginia Methanol says it plans a $350-million plant in Pleasants County, resulting in 30 jobs.
Gov. Jim Justice made the announcement Monday via livestream with company and local officials.
A separate company called U.S. Methanol is building a plant in Institute, Kanawha County.
The plant in Pleasants County is designed to produce 900 metric tons of high-purity methanol from natural gas each day. Methanol is an important component for industrial products and feedstock for chemical companies.
“We have an incredible manufacturing base and a great workforce training program that’s going to produce a lot of good for our beautiful state,” Justice said.
West Virginia Methanol is working on permitting and final design details for the site. The company expects to make a final investment decision in the first half of 2021 with operations expected to commence as early as mid-2023.
“It has been a long process for us in selecting the ideal site for our flagship project, which we plan to be the first of many across the state, the region, and the world,” said Lars Scott, executive vice president of West Virginia Methanol.
“Pleasants County already feels like home to us and we look forward to working with everyone to bring this project through construction and into operation.”
The chosen site formerly housed an industrial plant. It has road, rail, and river transportation access and is near a major natural gas pipeline.
Officials said the site is also conveniently located for regional methanol customers who currently transport methanol from the U.S. Gulf Coast or from other countries.
Pleasants County has a rich history, centered in the growth of the chemical industry, said Diane Braun, executive director of the Pleasants County Development Authority.
“We are especially pleased to welcome West Virginia Methanol to our commercial community. It is exciting to be part of an enduring partnership that can amplify our joint commitment to the manufacturing sector,” Braun said.