ALIQUIPPA, Pa. (AP) — A plan to build a huge new petrochemical plant in western Pennsylvania is making progress, Shell Oil Co. officials said Wednesday — but there’s still no guarantee the multi-billion dollar project will actually be constructed.

That message of optimism and caution was stressed by company officials to about 200 people who showed up for the first of two public meetings regarding a proposed plant site about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.