The company is expected to create 163 direct new jobs with an average annual salary of US$117 329, which is 42% above the average Iberville Parish wage, while retaining 725 current positions. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 655 indirect new jobs, for a total of 818 potential new job opportunities in the Capital Region.
Shintech began operations in Louisiana in 2000 and has continued to upgrade and expand its facilities to meet global demand for PVC and related products. This expansion will strengthen the company’s competitive position by deploying technologies designed to reduce environmental emissions per lb of PVC and caustic soda produced.
Shintech has a 25-year track record of continued investment and growth in Louisiana, including seven major projects totalling US$9.0 billion that have created 725 direct jobs and 940 nested contractor jobs. Shintech’s Louisiana operations have supported more than 3000 regionally induced jobs and thousands of construction jobs. Shintech is also the top exporter in containerised volume through the Port of New Orleans.
The project is expected to generate thousands of construction jobs and approximately 100 new nested contractor positions. Over the past two decades in the region, Shintech has demonstrated a strong commitment to local hiring. Of the company’s current technicians — its largest employee group – 68% reside in Iberville and West Baton Rouge parishes, and 57% of Shintech Louisiana’s total employees live in those two parishes. The expansion will continue to utilise the company’s established employee training programme to identify and prepare local residents and underemployed individuals in the region to meet hiring needs.
The state’s continued ability to deliver dependable, power capacity gives global manufacturers confidence to invest for the long-term. Entergy Louisiana played a critical role in ensuring that power solutions keep pace with Shintech’s accelerating industrial growth.
Construction will be executed in phases, beginning with a second ethylene unit and additional chlor-alkali and vinyl chloride monomer production units. The first phase is expected to be completed in 2030.
To secure the project in Plaquemine, the state of Louisiana offered Shintech Louisiana a competitive incentives package that includes the comprehensive workforce development solutions of LED FastStart and US$23.5 million performance-based grant tied to equipment investments and infrastructure improvements. The company is also expected to participate in the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption and Quality Jobs programmes.