MOSCOW (MRC) -- Phillips 66 and Chevron Phillips Chemical are teaming up with the Sweeny Independent School District in Texas to help fund the creation of a petrochemical academy, reported Hydrocarbonprocessing.
Phillips 66 and Chevron Phillips Chemical are making an initial combined contribution of USD1.6 million to the academy as part of their continued commitment to education and workforce development initiatives in the communities where they operate.
"I believe that the significant support from Phillips 66 and Chevron Phillips Chemical in developing our petrochemical academy relates well with the intent of House Bill 5 in that it will assist the district in preparing students to be career-ready," said Randy Miksch, superintendent of the Sweeny ISD.
"It is our hope that these educational and internship opportunities will help us produce highly qualified career-ready future employees for both Phillips 66 and Chevron Phillips Chemical."
The USD1.6 million combined contribution by Phillips 66 and Chevron Phillips Chemical will support the purchase of equipment, building renovations, and scholarships for juniors and seniors enrolled in Sweeny ISD and surrounding school systems. Subsequent contributions will be made in coming years to help cover ongoing maintenance and operation costs and additional equipment.
"We have significant growth plans for our operations in this region, so it’s exciting to know that students who enroll in classes at the academy will gain college-level skills before they even graduate high school," said Willie Tempton, manager of the Phillips 66 refinery in Sweeny. "That means a well-trained workforce for industry in our area and good paying jobs for young Texans looking for a career right here at home."
The petrochemical academy is expected to kick off classes with the start of the new school year on August 25.
As MRC informed previously, Chevron Phillips Chemical has recently announced the construction of a world-scale ethylene cracker in Baytown, Texas, two world-scale polyethylene reactors in Old Ocean, Texas and the start-up of the world’s largest 1-hexene facility in Baytown. The 1-hexene plant, capable of producing up to 250,000 tpy, is co-located with this expansion project at the Cedar Bayou plant. Chevron says the two plants will enjoy synergies as they both share the same infrastructure and workforce talent.
Chevron Phillips Chemical, headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas (north of Houston), USl is one of the world’s top producers of olefins and polyolefins and a leading supplier of aromatics, alpha olefins, styrenics, specialty chemicals, piping, and proprietary plastics. Chevron and Phillips 66 each own 50% of Chevron Phillips Chemical.
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