Recommended by NGP Reader Steve Borell: By Frank DiCesare / American Press

… A main component of Sasol’s final regulatory hurdle has been cleared.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Friday approved Sasol wetlands modification permit, allowing the company to disrupt — and later replace — wetlands during construction.

Mike Hayes, Sasol’s public affairs manager for U.S. megaprojects, told the American Press on Friday that the permit will also allow Sasol to move ahead with the project's financing.

"This means we can start planning to ask management for our Final Investment Decision," Hayes said. "On the ground, we will be able to begin pre-construction activities, such as site cleaning. We will also start preparing for the construction of the dock from which will we offload our modules." 

Hayes said Sasol expects to receive their final Corps permit to build a dock facility on the Calcasieu Ship Channel soon.

Sasol plans to expand their plant with an ethane cracker and a gas-to-liquids complex. The combined projects have been estimated to cost between $18 billion and $21 billion.