Conoco plans $125 million Ponca City expansion

Friday, January 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Ponca City-AP) -- Conoco has announced plans to build a $125 million carbon fiber plant that will employ 80 people in Ponca City. The company says more than 200 workers will be employed during construction, which starts in the second quarter.

Conoco says it plans to start production of carbon fiber in the second half of 2001. The fiber is a strong, lightweight material used in batteries for computers and cellular phones as well as in construction and autos. The plant will be built next to Conoco's Ponca City oil refinery, the largest refinery in Oklahoma.

Jim Nokes is executive vice president of Conoco. Nokes says the carbon-fiber product to be made at the plant is different from existing products. Nokes says the plant will manufacture eight million pounds of carbon fiber a year, but production could be tripled.