Mammoet completing La. plants

Heavy-lift specialist Mammoet has completed the lifting and positioning of the two largest units of an $8B Sasol ethane cracker plants, including Lake Charles, La., that will add to exports of polyethylene resins from the Gulf Coast. The Lake Charles plant is among the largest in a wave of petrochemical plants in the region and is expected to increase annual containerized exports by more than 500,000 TEU. The boom has also provided business for heavy-lift vessel operators, heavy haulers, and construction companies struggling with a weak global market. Low-cost natural gas feed stocks have transformed the U.S. into the world’s low-cost producer of ethane and derivatives (like polyethylene resins). Sasol plans to ship out most of its polyethylene production from the new plants in bulk hopper cars for bagging and export through the ports of Houston and New Orleans. (Source: JOC 06/07/17)