WASHINGTON –U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, announced today that the Army Corps of Engineers approved the final two permits required for Sasol to build a state of the art gas-to-liquids and ethane cracker facility at the Port of Lake Charles. The facility will create 1,200 direct and 5,800 indirect jobs through a near-record investment of $21 billion from a foreign company in the United States.

“America’s energy revolution and manufacturing renaissance are transforming the American economy and creating thousands of high-paying jobs in Louisiana and across the country. Instead of outsourcing jobs and dismantling factories, companies are making record investments in the American petrochemical industry, putting factories back together and helping to build a prosperous future for middle class families,” Sen. Landrieu said. “Sasol’s $21 billion investment in Southwest Louisiana shows great confidence in the future of our state, and I look forward to working with them on this and other projects as we continue to harness the game-changing potential of America’s abundant natural gas.”

In December 2012, Sen. Landrieu applauded Sasol for its decision to build its new facility in Louisiana.

In June 2012, Sen. Landrieu sent a letter in support of Sasol's application for Department of Energy funding for research into enhanced oil recovery techniques. This technology is able to produce oil from wells that were previously thought to be no longer containing recoverable resources.