Solvay invests €83m in electrolysis technology at France plant

09 November 2010 08:07  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Belgium’s Solvay is investing €83m ($115m) in new electrolysis technology that is expected to reduce the electrical consumption and carbon footprint at its integrated plant in Tavaux, France, the chemicals and plastics producer said on Tuesday.

Solvay’s conversion from mercury-based electrolysis to more advanced membrane-based electrolysis would reduce the consumption of electrical energy during the electrolysis process by 25%, it said in a statement.

The conversion, expected to be completed near the end of 2012, would also “considerably improve” the environmental footprint of the site by reducing direct and indirect carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the company said.

The production capacity of the plant would remain at 360,000 tonnes/year, it said.

The conversion project would strengthen the competitiveness of the Tavaux site, which benefits from a largely integrated production process for specialty polymers and essential products such as caustic soda, epichlorohydrin (ECH) and vinyls, the company added.

($1 = €0.72)

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By: Nurluqman Suratman

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