Published on March 10, 2018
Methanex is considering building another methanol unit in North America. They have zeroed down the two units either at Geismar, Louisiana, US or Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.
Both places are landmarks in the recent North American methanol boom, which like the ongoing ethylene and polyethylene plant booms. The abundance of cheap American natural gas along the Gulf Coast would seem to put Geismar in an opportune location for the new plant, Fontenot said gas is a lot cheaper in Alberta. Comparing gas prices between the two regions, Fontenot cited the cost of natural gas in Geismar at $3.02/MMBtu.
“In Alberta, the price is actually about half that,” Fontenot said, citing an Alberta gas cost of $1.68/MMBtu.
The final decision by Methanex on where to put the new plant is far ahead. The final decision will be taken by next year, with construction beginning in mid-2019 and plant start-up slated for 2023.
