Invista (Wichita, Kan.; www.invista.com) announced that it is considering a new, combined hydrogen and anhydrous ammonia manufacturing unit—valued at more than $500 million—within the existing footprint of the company’s nylon intermediates production facility in Victoria, Texas. If approved, the unit would produce materials used in Invista’s operations such as hydrogen, anhydrous ammonia, and steam, and rank among the world’s top 10%of similar facilities in terms of energy efficiency.
Construction is anticipated to take approximately 20 months. The new plant could be operational in 2017, pending final approvals, required permits and authorizations. Invista currently employs about 800 employees and resident contractors at the Victoria operation. Once completed, the new unit is anticipated to employ 15 to 25 permanent employees to operate and maintain. The company anticipates that more than 400 construction jobs will be created during the peak of the construction phase. Final project approval is contingent on a variety of factors, including completing the project’s cost analysis, successfully permitting the unit with the appropriate regulatory agencies, and support from the local community through potential economic incentives.