[Ferro-Alloys.com] Horsehead Holding Corp. reported that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Horsehead Corporation, and Shell Chemical LP signed an amended and restated option and purchase agreement in regard to the company’s Monaca, Pennsylvania facility. The agreement extends the timeline in which Shell can evaluate the site and exercise an option to purchase the location. In the meantime, the signed amendment allows for demolition of specific areas of the facility, which has been largely vacated. Horsehead moved its zinc operations to North Carolina this past month and has been evaluating other uses for the plant and land. In the previous agreement, the petrochemical company has until December 31 to act on the option. In the long-term, Shell is interested in the site to potentially build an ethane cracker plant in the county, just outside of Pittsburgh.