HOUSTON – Feb. 23, 2022 – LyondellBasell and San Jacinto College recently coordinated for U.S. Representative Brian Babin (TX-36) to tour the LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy and Technology (CPET) to see firsthand how industry and higher education are collaborating to offer exceptional training programs for students interested in the petrochemical industry. During the tour, Congressman Babin, who has about six LyondellBasell manufacturing sites within his congressional district, discussed the industry’s impact to the economy and role it plays in strengthening communities through job creation.
“LyondellBasell and San Jacinto College’s impressive partnership is playing a vital role in shaping the future of America’s workforce,” said Rep. Babin. “The skills taught at this one-of-a-kind education center will launch our students into well-paying jobs that benefit them and the surrounding communities for many years to come.”
CPET is a leading training facility in Houston for the petrochemical industry with its LyondellBasell Glass Distillation Plant, a scaled transparent model distillation plant showing the chemical and physical processes that take place within a chemical plant. Additionally, at CPET, LyondellBasell employees and San Jacinto College faculty have worked to develop industry-aligned curriculum and realistic hands-on labs, to make the transition from the classroom to the workforce almost seamless.
“It’s amazing to see the commitment and investment of today’s workforce propelling tomorrow’s workforce forward with needed skills and knowledge,” said David Gosnay, LyondellBasell manager, Logistics and Training. “Our employees are dedicated to endeavors and partnerships that help the next generation, or those who want to start a new career, understand all the employment opportunities that exist in petrochemicals. Support and awareness for training programs like the one at CPET are critical to building our future workforce.”
LyondellBasell awards 10 scholarships annually to enrolled CPET students to offset tuition expenses. In March, several CPET students will have realized their goals at a “signing day” celebration hosted by LyondellBasell at San Jacinto College. During the celebration, graduates will accept employment offers from four of LyondellBasell’s Houston-area sites. The celebration is part of the company’s collaborative hiring process with the college.
For more information about CPET, click here.