S. Korean builder DL E&C wins $1.26 bn petrochemical plant deal, first in US

South Korea’s midsized builder DL E&C Co. has successfully won a $1.26 billion petrochemical plant project for the first time in the United States in a consortium with Texas-based constructor Zachry Industrial.

The Korean builder received a final investment decision for the $1.26 billion Golden Triangle Polymers Project from Golden Triangle Polymer, the joint-venture between Chevron Phillips Chemical and Qatar Energy, it said Thursday.

DL E&C expects to take home an estimated 660 billion won ($491.6 million) from the project.

The project aims to build two units of polyethylene production facilities in Orange County, Texas with an annual capacity of 1 million tons, the world’s largest for a unit. Construction starts this year for commercial operation in 2026.

DL E&C will be in charge of the plant design and procurement of major materials and equipment. It is planning to apply advanced technology such as modular and building information modeling to provide an optimized solution for the project.

DL E&C was able to clinch the latest project as it proved its technical prowess and project management with various projects with Chevron Phillips Chemical. In 2019, it conducted front end engineering design (FEED) for the Golden Triangle Polymers Project.

“This joint building project is significant as it is the first petrochemical plant deal clinched in the U.S. by DL E&C. Based on the project, the company will prove its advanced technology and construction capability for expanded foothold in the U.S.,” said Yoo Jae-ho, head of the plant business at DL E&C.

DL E&C shares were trading 0.25 percent lower at 39,400 won in the afternoon session on Thursday.