HOUSTON, Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Westlake Chemical Corporation (NYSE: WLK) announced today that Chlorine Engineers Corp, LTD, has been selected as process technology provider and engineering contractor for the previously announced new chlor-alkali plant being constructed at its vinyls manufacturing complex in Geismar, Louisiana.

The project is targeted for start-up in the second half of 2013 and will be partially funded by the Gulf Opportunity Zone bonds issued by the company. The plant will utilize state of the art membrane technology and is expected to create approximately 100 permanent positions and 400 to 500 construction jobs. The new unit will be adjacent to the existing vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) facilities at the Geismar complex.

Westlake Chemical Corporation (WLK)

Westlake Chemical Corporation is an international manufacturer and supplier of petrochemicals, polymers and fabricated products with headquarters in Houston, Texas. The company's range of products includes: ethylene, polyethylene, styrene, propylene, caustic, VCM, PVC and PVC building products including pipe, windows and fence. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.westlake.com.

Chlorine Engineers Corp, LTD

Chlorine Engineers Corp., Ltd. is a licensor-cum-supplier of electrolysis cells for the production of the chlor-alkali products with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. The company is a world pioneer company and highly specialized organization in the field of electrolysis technologies for the chlor-alkali industry. The company's range of technologies include: brine electrolysis, sodium hypochlorite generators, ozone generators and functional water generators. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.chlorine-eng.co.jp

The statements in this release relating to the new construction, as well as any other matters that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially. For more detailed information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, please refer to Westlake's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which was filed in February 2011.

SOURCE Westlake Chemical Corporation