According to the Associated Press, the plant will have a 6.5 million barrel capacity annually. The first-of-its-kind project will provide an alternative that is strategic and environmentally sound, the company noted.
Approximately 3 million tons of coal per year will be used to produce gasoline at the plant, which will create about 3000 jobs for southern West Virginia workers during its construction.
The facility should be in production by 2013, the news service said, employing 200.
An ILN request for details on the source coal and planned technology to be incorporated into the gasoline production was not immediately returned by TransGas. However, it did tell the AP that it has leased an 800-acre site from the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority for the plant’s construction.
“West Virginia remains firmly committed to advancing coal-to-liquids technology,” WV Governor Joe Manchin told local news media.
“We are excited that TransGas Development Systems shares that goal and is prepared to invest in our state.”
Added pro-coal senator Robert Byrd: “As a supporter of coal-to-liquid technology and West Virginia coal, I am pleased to see this latest effort taking shape in Mingo County. This project has the potential to bring many well-paying coal jobs to West Virginia, and that is always good news for our state.”
