Mar 1 2006
Peter R. Huntsman, President and CEO of Huntsman Corporation, today announced the selection of Huntsman’s Geismar, Louisiana site as the location for the Company’s previously announced new 100 million pound world scale maleic anhydride facility. The Company will commence detailed engineering and reactor procurement immediately. Huntsman has chosen a fast track implementation model that will enable the plant to startup in the 3rd quarter of 2008.
Huntsman Vice President, Tom Fisher, commented, “We want to move as quickly as possible to respond to our customer’s growing requirements and to help ensure the long term supply of maleic anhydride in North America. The Geismar site was chosen after evaluating six possible locations. Huntsman has a world scale MDI manufacturing complex at the site. We are confident that the Geismar site will provide the most attractive economics for the plant due to the feedstock availability and the ability to leverage off existing Huntsman infrastructure currently located at the Geismar site.“
Maleic anhydride is the building block for unsaturated polyester resins used mainly in the production of fiberglass reinforced resins for construction, automotive and marine products. It is also used in formulations for oil additives, food additives, paper chemicals, epoxies, as well as other applications. Huntsman is a leading global producer of maleic anhydride and currently has the annual capacity to produce 240 million pounds at its Pensacola, Florida facility. Huntsman also owns a 50% interest in a joint venture in Moers, Germany that currently has an annual capacity of 125 million pounds.