Evonik prepares for hurricanes at US site

30 July 2008 23:41  [Source: ICIS news]

By Doris de Guzman

MOBILE, Alabama (ICIS news)--Evonik Degussa is stockpiling supplies at its plant in Mobile, Alabama, in preparation for the US hurricane season, company officials said on Wednesday.

Evonik has purchased special fuel facilities in secured areas around the plant site to store gasoline, said Tom Bates, Evonik Degussa’s president and Mobile site manager.

The fuel supply will be used to operate the facility as well as for employee needs, he said.

“During Katrina we were able to allocate five gallons to each employee, but, this year, we intend to have more in hand just in case,” Bates said.

The Mobile site produces chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, methionine, silica and isopherone. The facility will also make alkoxide, a catalyst use in biodiesel manufacture, when it comes onstream in February 2009.

The company said it has also contracted the University of South Alabama’s Coastal Weather Research Center to supplement information it obtains from the National Weather Service.

“We want to get as much accurate information about a possible storm as soon as possible,” said Randy Rogers, manager of safety and health compliance at the Mobile site.

The Mobile facility is Evonik’s largest plant site in North America with under 700 employees, Bates said.

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By: Doris de Guzman
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