TPC to lay off 100 as it rebuilds Texas butadiene plant

Port Neches, Texas - Roughly 100 of the 183 employees at TPC Group's Port Neches butadiene extraction facility face layoffs as the company works to rebuild the site in the wake of two 27 Nov explosions and multiple fires.

Operations at the facility have stopped as TPC rebuilds, an endeavour that will take at least two years, according to findings provided by third-party engineering reports that were commissioned by the company.

Salaried and hourly workers were informed of the layoffs during a 25 Feb meeting, and TPC said, it only will retain workers needed to maintain the terminal operations until the facility is back to full operation. 

Once that happens, those impacted by the layoffs will have an opportunity to return.

"The company has plans for growth beyond that point," TPC said, "and the impacted employees would have an opportunity to apply for those positions at that time."

TPC noted that additional permitting and preparation "results in an approximate five-year timeline for resumption of production at Port Neches."