JAPAN DISASTER: Kureha to restart caustic soda unit

21 April 2011 11:33  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Japan’s Kureha plans to restart its 100,000 dry metric tonne (dmt)/year caustic soda facility at Iwaki in early May, after the plant was damaged during the 11 March earthquake, a company source said on Thursday.

“The abovementioned outlook might change again [depending on the] progress in assessing and repairing the facilities, external factors such as the circumstances concerning receipt of raw materials and fuel, occurrence of large aftershocks and the situation surrounding the nuclear power plant,” the company said in a statement.

Kureha’s caustic soda production only caters to the Japanese domestic market.   

The supply in Japan is tight as Kashima Chlorine and Alkali’s 400,000 dmt/year plant remains shut and is unlikely to be restarted soon, market sources said.

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By: Feliana Widjaja

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