January 15, 2010
TPCO America Corporation, a subsidiary of Chinese-based Tianjin Pipe Co., announced plans in 2009 to build a $1 billion steel pipe mill on a site at the intersection of SH 35 and SH 361 on the east side of Gregory in San Patricio County.
The San Patricio Municipal Water District will provide water to the manufacturing facility when it is built. The company has plans for an extensive water recycling and reuse system.
TPCO has optioned a 252-acre site fronting 
on State Highway 35 and direct access to the Union Pacific Railroad and the railroad's Gregory rail yard. The company is seeking necessary permits from the Texas Commission on Environment Quality.
The plant would include a high-efficiency mini mill for processing recycled scrap steel and a pipe mill for making seamless steel pipe. TPCO estimates that 300 jobs will be created in the first year of operation and additional employees will be added as the plant becomes fully operational. The company has indicated that site preparation work could begin during 2010.
The pipe would be marketed for oil and gas well casing and tubing, line pipe and similar applications. The primary markets for the pipe mill would be the U.S., Canada, South America and West Africa.
Tianjin is one of the world’s largest seamless steel pipe manufacturers.
.
