Canada PotashCorp to shut down Geismar sulphuric acid plant

HOUSTON (ICIS)–PotashCorp will shut down its 500,000 tonne/year sulphuric acid facility in Geismar, Louisiana during the first half of 2015, the company confirmed in an email on Tuesday.

PotashCorp said that continued operation would be uneconomic due to expected increases in production costs.

Market sources had said that the plant was closing due to a mandated $100m upgrade from the US Enivronmental Protection Agency (EPA), but PotashCorp denied that assertion.

Honeywell was heard to be supplied by the plant. Sources speculated that producers Cornerstone and DuPont would take over the supply provided by the Geismar location.

It had been heard that the plant had a capacity of 725,000 tonnes/year, but PotashCorp confirmed the capacity as 500,000 tonnes/year.