Akzo sees remote-control chlorine uptake in 2008

06 May 2008 17:16  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--Akzo Nobel expects to sign up the first customer for its remote-controlled chlorine production process this year, Ellen Holmen, business manager for the new concept, said on Tuesday.

A sign-up this year would mean the first plant would come on stream in 2010/2011, she said.

The reaction to the concept, which Akzo and its engineering partner, Italy-based Uhdenora, launched last month, has been positive.

“We are busy following up prospects, but also with mapping Europe for more candidates.” she said.

The companies said the concept provides an environmentally-driven alternative to chlorine transportation or an economical alternative to the replacement of smaller plants that still use the outdated mercury electrolysis process.

With a minimum chlorine production capacity of 15,000 tonnes/year, the plants would be located at customers’ sites.

While the development and engineering of the product is a joint concept between the two companies, Uhdenora will be responsible for construction and assembly and Akzo will be responsible for commissioning, said Holmen.

Akzo will then be responsible for the production of chlorine for the customer, including handling of co-products and bi-products, she added.

The Dutch group will control the plants from a control room located at one of its existing chlorine sites. At least five plants can be controlled from one control room, says Holmen.

The efficient operation will compensate for the small size of the production plant, Akzo and Uhdenora said.

While the industry is building larger and larger plants, this product involves taking the opposite route and scaling down, but the operation of a larger number of smaller units remotely would realise the scale benefits across the units, said Holmen.

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By: Anna Jagger
+44 20 8652 3214

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