Celanese Plans Methanol Plant for Houston

Thu, June 14 2012

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global technology and specialty materials company, today announced its intention to construct and operate a methanol production facility at its Clear Lake, Texas acetyl complex. As one of the world’s largest producers of acetyl products, the company plans to utilize its existing infrastructure to capture the opportunities created by abundant and affordable U.S. natural gas supplies.

“The positive developments in the U.S. energy complex and the current and emerging natural gas surplus make it advantageous for us to produce our own methanol requirements for U.S. acetyl production,” said Mark Rohr, chairman and chief executive officer of Celanese. “Utilizing existing Celanese infrastructure helps reduce capital requirements while capturing advantages of state-of-the-art technologies.”

Following necessary approvals, Celanese intends to construct a 1.3 million metric ton per year facility with anticipated start-up after July 1, 2015. A significant portion of the methanol produced would be used to support the company’s current operations. The company expects to partner with one or more additional entities interested in the remaining methanol.

The company currently produces acetic acid and vinyl acetate monomer at the facility and is finalizing construction of its TCX^® ethanol technology development unit. The company’s global acetyl research and development center is also located at the facility. The additional methanol production builds on the company’s current position in the Houston region and would incrementally bring several hundred jobs to the area through the construction and start-up phases.

About Celanese

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of specialty materials and chemical products that are used in most major industries and consumer applications. Our products, essential to everyday living, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia. Known for operational excellence, sustainability and premier safety performance, Celanese delivers value to customers around the globe with best-in-class technologies. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company employs approximately 7,600 employees worldwide and had 2011 net sales of $6.8 billion, with approximately 73% generated outside of North America. For more information about Celanese Corporation and its global product offerings, visit www.celanese.com or the company’s blog at www.celaneseblog.com.

Celanese® is a registered trademark of Celanese International Corporation.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain “forward-looking statements,” which include information concerning the company’s plans, objectives, goals, strategies, capital expenditures, financing needs and other information that is not historical information. When used in this release, the words “outlook,” “forecast,” “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “will,” and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and beliefs and various assumptions, including the proposed plant construction. There can be no assurance that the company will realize these expectations or that these beliefs will prove correct. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this release, including with respect to the plant. Numerous factors, many of which are beyond the company’s control, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed as forward-looking statements. Other risk factors include those that are discussed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances.

Celanese Corporation
Investor Relations
Jon Puckett, +1-972-443-4965
Telefax: +1-972-332-9373
jon.puckett@celanese.com
or
Media Relations
Linda Beheler, +1-972-443-4924
Telefax: +1-972-443-8519
linda.beheler@celanese.com

Source: Celanese Corporation