Shell Chemicals to Close Ethylene Oxide/Glycols Unit

Shell Chemicals have announced that they intend to permanently close one of their three ethylene oxide/glycols units at their Geismer chemical plant in Louisiana by the end of 2004.

To minimise impact on customers, they will increase production from the remaining units and will source additional ethylene glycol and ethylene oxide under contractual agreements.

They do not expect to have to cut any jobs, with affected employees being deployed elsewhere in the plant.

The closure was brought about by the fact that the unit to be closed was built in the 1960’s and would require significant expenditure to keep it in service. However, they remain committed to the industry and are looking at further expansions to the ethylene oxide purification at Geismar as well as improvements to other plants and the possibility of building a new facility in Singapore.

Ethylene oxide is used in the production of polyurethanes.

For more information on polyurethanes, click here.