Chemical plant Shintech announces $1.5B Louisiana expansion

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Chemical plant Shintech is planning a nearly $1.5 billion expansion project in Louisiana.

Gov. John Bel Edwards and Shintech Louisiana LLC say the project will create 120 new direct jobs in Iberville Parish, with an average salary of nearly $82,000 plus benefits, along with other indirect jobs.

The expansion is expected to be up and running in 2021.

Among its products, Shintech makes polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, a synthetic plastic used in the building, construction, health care, electronics, automobile and other industries.

The company has operated in West Baton Rouge and Iberville parishes since 1999.

Louisiana will give Shintech a $1.5 million modernization tax credit. The company also will receive other tax breaks through the Industrial Tax Exemption Program and a program for companies that create high-paying jobs.