More Jobs Coming To Acadiana With New Oil Plant

A new oil facility will be built soon just west of Oakdale, bringing with it about 50 jobs to the Acadiana area.

A Texas company called Virtual Engineering Operations is planning on building a new refinery at the old Arizona Chemical plant. VEOPS asked to lease the Allen Parish-owned property and the Police Jury agreed to the deal.

VEOPS President J. Craig Harrington says that the construction of the facility should start in July and take about 18 months to complete. Some of the new positions will included refinery work, officer operations and salaries will average around $100,000 a year.

On top of that, an additional 140 jobs could sprout from spinoff businesses and more construction that will come from phase 2 of the project.

Harrington says that the facility will process 20,000 barrels of crude oil a day, diesel, jet fuel, and heating oil.