The Times Leader
GCA Providing Financial Support to Shadyside Schools and Mead Township
PTTGC America (GCA) is contributing $1.15 million to the Shadyside Local School District and Mead Township even as the company continues discussions with potential partners on a proposed world-scale petrochemical project in the Ohio River Valley.
The payments stem from a March 2020 Ohio Enterprise Zone agreement, under which GCA pledged a financial commitment to the school district and the township over 15 years after final investment decision.
Although no such decision is imminent, the GCA will provide financial support of $1 million for the school district and $150,000 for Mead Township to demonstrate commitment and good corporate citizenship to the local communities. In addition to the payments, GCA will allow Mead Township to temporarily utilize its office and garage in Dilles Bottom. These payments will take effect immediately and remain in place regardless of whether or when an investment decision is reached.
With these payments, GCA is helping to meet some immediate needs of the local community. The $1 million to the school district will allow it to secure its school restoration plan with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. Without the funding, the plan would be in jeopardy. Meanwhile, the Dilles Bottom office building will alleviate the health and safety risks of the township’s existing office and equipment storage locations.
“All our local partners, including Mead Township and the Shadyside Local School District, have been extraordinarily supportive and patient throughout this process,” GCA CEO Panod Awaiwanond said. “We are pleased to support them with a gesture of financial assistance as we continue our discussions with potential partners on our Ohio project.”
Shadyside Superintendent John Haswell expressed thanks on behalf of the Shadyside Board of Education. “This payment of $1 million allows our district to take a giant step toward building a new facility for pre-K through 12th grade in the near future. It allows us to lock in a funding commitment through the Ohio School Facilities Commission under which 75% of the construction cost will be covered by the state. This could save our district millions of dollars,” Haswell said.
“We believe this affirms GCA’s intention to be a great community partner. The Shadyside Board looks forward to working with the company in years to come to prove a brighter future for Shadyside residents.”
Mead Township Trustee Chairman Ed Good called the lease agreement and payment “another example of GCA’s understanding of and true commitment to our community,” adding, “This arrangement will allow the township to conduct business in a safer, more efficient manner for our employees and residents.
“We believe the constant contact and transparency Mead Township has maintained with GCA and its partners has once again shown results.”
PTTGCA Drafting Application for Modified OEPA Air Permit
PTTGC America is in the process of drafting an application for an air permit from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in accordance with its parent company’s Net Zero commitment. Ohio EPA issued an initial air permit-to-install for PTTGCA’s proposed petrochemical complex in Belmont County in December of 2018. That permit will expire February 24.
The forthcoming resubmission of its permit application will be consistent with the ambitious environmental protection goal announced last year by GC, PTTGCA’s Thai-based parent company. GC announced in October it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030 and achieve a net-zero emissions goal by 2050 in order to fight climate change.
PTTGCA has invested more than $300 million in the Ohio project, and has prioritized identifying potential partners in order to move the project forward. The support and patience of the Ohio River Valley has been crucial to the progress PTTGCA has made toward making the proposed petrochemical complex a reality.
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PTTGCA’s Parent Company No. 1 in the World for Sustainability
GC, the Bangkok-based parent company of PTTGC America, has been recognized for its efforts around environmental protection by two prominent international organizations. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) has rated GC No. 1 in the world for sustainability in the chemicals sector for the second consecutive year in a row and ranked GC among the top 10 companies in the DJSI World Indices and DJSI Emerging Markets Index for the eighth consecutive year. GC is also the first and only Thai-owned conglomerate to achieve the highest score in the 2020 annual environmental disclosure of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). GC was awarded the leadership level top “A” grade for best-practice initiatives in both climate change and water security in CDP’s prestigious corporate sustainability standards.
The DJSI was jointly established by the S&P Dow Jones Indices and the SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment and serves as an index to evaluate expertise in sustainable development of leading globally listed companies. CDP, a nonprofit organization recognized as the largest online data source for greenhouse gases, uses a scoring methodology ranging from A to D-; the average score for companies in Asia and for chemical companies is D. GC is Thailand’s first and only company to have received a score of A in the assessment. The CDP and DJSI rankings reflect GC’s commitment to applying a sustainable approach to driving its business by balancing three dimensions: the economy, environment and society under its principles of good corporate governance.
GC CEO Dr. Kongkrapan Intarajang said that the company is committed to operating as a sustainable organization and taking on a pivotal role in mitigating the impacts of climate change while transitioning to a low-carbon community in support of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. GC is taking a leading role responding to climate change through its pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% in 2030 from the base year of 2012. By establishing comprehensive water management goals, both internally and externally, GC will ensure that its operations are accountable and that it maintains its leadership position in sustainability at the international level.
Ohio Project Remains Top Priority for PTTGCA
The proposed world-scale petrochemical complex in the Ohio River Valley remains the top priority of PTTGC America (PTTGCA). PTTGCA is working to move the project forward, continuing to invest its time and resources with the goal of creating thousands of jobs and transforming the regional economic landscape. The project has not at any point been put on hold. PTTGCA looks forward to making announcements of the project’s progression in the weeks and months ahead.
PTTGCA, Range Resources Sign Long-Term Ethane Feedstock Agreement
PTTGC America LLC (PTTGCA), the U.S. subsidiary of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited, a leading integrated petrochemical and refining company based in Thailand, announced today that it has signed a long-term ethane feedstock agreement with Range Resources – Appalachia LLC, a leading producer of natural gas and natural gas liquids based in western Pennsylvania.
Under this ethane agreement, Range will provide 15,000 Barrels per day of ethane as feedstock for PTTGCA’s planned ethane cracker and petrochemical complex along the Ohio River in Ohio’s Belmont County. The ethane supplied by Range will be utilized by PTTGCA to manufacture polyethylene, one of the key resins used to produce plastics products. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, plastic materials have helped protect the public health, especially in the medical and food industries. This agreement is predicated upon PTTGCA reaching a final investment decision on the Ohio Petrochemical Project.
“This agreement will provide the ethane needed for the operation of this project,” said PTTGCA President and CEO Toasaporn Boonyapipat. “Range Resources is another example of the outstanding partners we are bringing together to make this world-scale petrochemical complex a reality. We deeply appreciate the continued support we have received from our federal, state and local partners.”
“We are very pleased to partner with PTTGCA to help support a world-class project in Appalachia. This further demonstrates our commitment to investing in our community, while growing regional demand for our products,” said Jeff Ventura, CEO and president of Range Resources. “This project is a great example of what is possible with a multi-decade asset base and forward-thinking teams working together to create value for all stakeholders.”
The PTTGCA Ohio petrochemical complex, once constructed, will be one of the largest manufacturing investments in Ohio. The project, which will include world-scale chemical manufacturing facilities to produce finished plastic resin, will be capable of producing 1.6 million metric tonnes of polyethylene plastic resin, which is used to make the myriad of plastic products that are necessary to use every day. This facility is expected to create hundreds of highly paid full-time jobs, thousands of construction jobs over the five year period of construction The project’s investment and high-paying, full-time jobs would have a very positive and transformational impact on the local, regional and state economy and quality of life.