UpdateMore firms shut US chem plants as Hurricane Isaac nears

More firms shut US chem plants as Hurricane Isaac nears

28 August 2012 22:28  [Source: ICIS news]

(adds details, updates throughout)

HOUSTON (ICIS)--More companies shut down plants on Tuesday as Hurricane Isaac has strengthened during its approach towards Louisiana.

Isaac's centre was about 105 miles (170km) southeast of New Orleans, according to the National Hurricane Center. It was travelling northwest at about 8 miles/hour.

Isaac has strengthened, and its maximum sustained wind speeds were now at 80 miles/hour, the centre said.

The centre warned that Isaac could bring storm surges, heavy rain and tornados along the US Gulf coast. The storm could make landfall later on Tuesday.

Hurricanes can disrupt the North American petrochemical industry, since oil and gas production is concentrated in the Gulf of Mexico and many of the country's refineries and petrochemical plants are on the US Gulf coast.

So far, several petrochemical plants and refineries have either reduced operating rates or shut down in preparation for Hurricane Isaac. Shutdowns include BASF and Huntsman's complexes in Geismar, Louisiana.

Companies have shut in nearly all of the crude oil production in the Gulf of Mexico and more than half of its natural gas production.

In addition, Isaac has also disrupted logistics, with the port of New Orleans shutting down cargo operations and the port of South Louisiana closing.

The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) began shutting down marine operations and suspended oil tanker deliveries on Monday afternoon in anticipation of Isaac's landfall.

US-based CSX has curtailed rail service in and around New Orleans, Louisiana, in preparation of Hurricane Isaac.

Service will remained curtailed until the storm passes and tracks are inspected, repaired and reopened, according to a statement by Carla Groleau, CSX spokeswoman.

The following companies have announced that they are either reducing operating rates or shutting down plants.

Company	Product	Site	Status
BASF	MDI, TDI, BDO, EO	Geismar	shut
Cornerstone Chemicals	melamine	Waggaman	shut
CF Industries	fertilizers	Donaldsonville	shut
ExxonMobil	refined products	Chalmette	shut
ExxonMobil	refined products	Baton Rouge	reduced
Huntsman	MDI, MA	Geismar	shut
Marathon	refined products	Garyville	reduced
Mosaic	fertilizers	Faustina	shut
Mosaic	fertilizers	Uncle Sam	shut
Motiva	refined products	Convent	shut
Motiva	refined products	Norco	reduced
Olin	chlor-alkalis	St Gabriel	shut
Olin	chlor-alkalis	McIntosh, Alabama	shut
Phillips 66	refined products	Belle Chasse	shut
PotashCorp	fertilizers	Geismar	shut
Shell	refined products	Geismar	shut
Shell	refined products	Mobile, Alabama	reduced
Valero	refined products	St Charles	shut
Valero	refined products	Meraux	shut

Additional reporting by Stefan Baumgarten, Wesley Busch, John Dietrich, Ken Fountain, Lane Kelley, Michelle Klump, Anna Matherne, Larry Terry and Frank Zaworski
By: Al Greenwood
+1 713 525 2645

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