EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated January 26, 2001 relating to the financial statements, which appears in the 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders of Millennium Chemicals Inc., which is incorporated by reference in Millennium Chemicals Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2000. We also consent to the incorporation by reference of our report dated January 26, 2001 relating to the supplemental financial information of Millennium Chemicals Inc. and the financial statement schedule, which appears in such Annual Report on Form 10-K and Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A. PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP Florham Park, New Jersey January 22, 2002