Evonik picks S. Carolina for new silica plant

Evonik Industries will build its new precipitated silica plant in Berkeley County, South Carolina. Evonik announced plans to build the plant last year, but did not release a location or budget. Last week, David Wren of The Post and Courier reported that the new plant will be budgeted at $129.4 million and will be located at the Bushy Park Industrial Complex in Berkeley County. Construction will begin in September 2016 and be completed by the end of 2017. The plant will benefit from a $500,000 Economic Development Grant from South Carolina to assist with site preparation and building construction. Evonik has not announced the capacity for the new plant.