Beaver County zinc plant, home to possible cracker, closing soon
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MONACA – Horsehead Corp. has filed a 60-day notice with the state, warning workers it plans to close a zinc smelter in Beaver County by year’s end.
The move was expected, as the plant in Potter Township may become the site of a $2.5 billion petrochemical “cracker” plant that Shell Oil Co. may build about 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.
The Beaver County Times reported that the closing is still tough news for the plant’s nearly 500 hourly employees.
Horsehead spokesman Ali Alavi said the company plans to begin producing zinc at a new $450 million plant in Mooresboro, N.C., by year’s end. That plant is being built to replace the Western Pennsylvania factory.
A Shell spokesman wouldn’t comment on whether and when the company will make a decision on the cracker plant.