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BAYTOWN, TEXAS — Exxon Mobil Corp. has begun construction on a chemical plant in Baytown, as well as begun expansion of a nearby plant in Mont Belvieu. The plants will use shale-derived natural gas to make plastics and other material. According to reports, the Baytown plant will be able to produce 1.5 million tons of ethylene per year. Exxon's plant is expected to be online by 2017. Bechtel, Linde, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have been awarded contracts for phases of the two projects.