Arkema delays restart of fire-damaged VCM plant

30 May 2007 15:31  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Arkema’s vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) plant at Lavera, France, was still offline on Wednesday following a large fire at the facility last week, said a company spokesman.

 

The 490,000 tonne/year plant had been expected to go on stream earlier this week, but Arkema said it was now awaiting the conclusion of a safety evaluation before planning a restart.

 

Downstream chemicals polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and caustic soda were not affected, added the spokesman.

 

The incident also brought down the 775,000 tonne/year Naphtachimie cracker ahead of a shutdown which was due to start at the end of the month, according to market sources.

 

No-one was seriously injured in the fire, but a few employees were referred to hospital.

 

Adal Rafiq contributed to this article

By: Mark Watts
+44 20 8652 3214

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