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W.Va. gas industry called ‘awakening giant’

 

Charleston Gazette photo by Kenny Kemp Antero Resources President Paul Rady speaks Wednesday about the potential impact of the natural gas industry on manufacturing during the keynote address at the Marcellus to Manufacturing Conference at the Charleston Civic Center. Antero announced that it will supply nearly half of the ethane needed to operate a proposed petrochemical complex in Wood County. The conference continues Thursday.
Charleston Gazette photo by Kenny Kemp
Antero Resources President Paul Rady speaks Wednesday about the potential impact of the natural gas industry on manufacturing during the keynote address at the Marcellus to Manufacturing Conference at the Charleston Civic Center. Antero announced that it will supply nearly half of the ethane needed to operate a proposed petrochemical complex in Wood County. The conference continues Thursday.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Antero Resources announced Wednesday that it will supply nearly half of the ethane needed to support the proposed petrochemical complex in Wood County known as project Ascent — Appalachian Shale Cracker Enterprise.

Company President Paul Rady told a crowd of about 70 people at the Marcellus to Manufacturing Conference going on Wednesday and today at the Charleston Civic Center that Marcellus Shale is “an awakening giant.”

Rady was joined by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and Odebrecht Vice President David Peebles. Odebrecht announced in November that it would explore its options in developing a petrochemical complex that would include an ethane cracker plant, three polyethylene plants and associated infrastructure for water treatment and energy co-generation.

In January, Odebrecht announced that it purchased land in Wood County for the project.

“We want growth, jobs and prosperity in this region,” Rady said about the developments of project Ascent.

Antero will supply 30,000 barrels per day of ethane under the tentative agreement. The agreement is contingent on project Ascent moving forward after a multi-year feasibility study.

“It’s a big step because, without this [ethane supply], you can’t go forward. It’s a first step. We need a pool of suppliers,” Peebles said. “This is a key, critical element when you talk about manufacturing otherwise you’re not going to have the polyethylene manufactures need to build.”

Ascent will use the ethane to manufacture polyethylene, which is used to manufacture plastics.

Tomblin told the crowd the natural gas industry has the potential to create jobs, heat homes, fuel cars and rejuvenate West Virginia’s manufacturing industry…

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