WHEELING — A new facility that’s expected to process 2.7 million tons of West Virginia coal annually is coming to Mason County, West Virginia.

Gov. Jim Justice announced Wednesday that Frontieras North America – a subsidiary of Frontier Applied Sciences — will construct its first FASForm plant in the state.

The plant is expected to employ 500 after construction is completed at the end of 2023, he said.

The company’s patented technology, Solid Carbon Fractionation (SCF), “reforms coal, waste plastics and hydrogen production by extracting volatiles, moisture, and contaminants,” according to information provided by Frontieras North America. This new validated process, applied to the energy market, results in the delivery of FASForm liquid and gas offerings, as well as a cleaner version of coal known as FASCarbon that will be leveraged by the steel industry.

“Absolutely, we want to be an energy powerhouse,” Justice said during his virtual briefing with state reporters on Wednesday. “We want people to come to West Virginia. We want people to know we’re the diamond in the rough that they missed.

“We want them to know West Virginia can be the energy hub – the spark that makes this nation once again energy independent. Absolutely we should be, in every way.”

West Virginia’s energy resources become even more important to the nation and the world amid issues happening in Ukraine and across Europe, and “canceling pipelines in America,” he continued.

“Without question, the Biden Administration went way astray chasing after ideas of the left,” Justice said. “I don’t know if they can reel themselves back in …. or they are going to wind up with the God-awfulest whitewashing in the midterms – which will delight me.

“But I don’t want the country to suffer just so they lose in the midterms. I want West Virginia to lead the way.”

Frontieras North America conducted an exhaustive search through Texas, Wyoming and West Virginia before identifying West Virginia as having the best coal for their process, and Mason County as the contracted site, the company explained in a released statement.

“Mason County has quickly become the epicenter for the nation’s answer to the energy crisis,” the statement said. “National steel manufacturer Nucor recently announced its selection of Mason County as well for the production of its new steel mill, complimenting Frontieras’ offerings and further validating its choice.”

“Mason County is proud to welcome Frontieras North America into the fold of national companies that have selected West Virginia as the site for a new business opportunity,” added John Musgrave, executive director of the Mason County Development Authority, in the statement. “This excellent company has a new approach to expanding the energy sector not only in West Virginia but also the nation. Frontieras’ unique approach to processing coal by breaking it down into its component parts will create many downstream jobs and opportunities. We are looking forward to assisting this outstanding company as it expands its business into international markets as well.”