Celanese to close Mexican acetic acid plant by end July

26 April 2000 17:57  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--German chemicals company Celanese announced Wednesday it will close its acetic acid plant at Cangrejera, Mexico by the end of July as part of its global rationalisation of production.

Celanese plans to convert the 165 000 tonne/year plant into an acetone derivatives unit, which it plans to start-up in the fourth quarter. "This unit will replace capacity [to be] shut down in Celaya, Mexico at the end of the year," it said in a statement.

Acetic acid customers served by Cangrejera are to be supplied, without interruption, from its 1m tonne/year facility at Clear Lake, Texas.

Knut Zeptner, chief executive officer of Celanese Chemicals and Acetate, said: "Our goal is to consolidate our acetic acid operations at large, cost-competitive plants, placed strategically around the world."

He said: "By closing less competitive operations, such as Cangrejera, and starting up our Singapore plant, we will improve the global efficiency of our operations."

The Cangrejera plant runs on older, less efficient acetaldehyde-based oxidation technology, whereas the Clear Lake facility and the soon-to-start 500 000 tonne/year acetic acid unit in Singapore both utilise Celanese's patented acid optimisation (AO) methanol carbonylation technology. The Singapore unit is due to start-up by July.

By: Patrick Reynolds
+44 208 652 3214

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