Chinese trade delegation tours Albemarle’s B.R. facilities

A delegation of Chinese government and power industry officials visited Albemarle’s process development center in north Baton Rouge on Monday to learn about technologies that can remove mercury and other metals from coal-fired plant emissions. The visit was part of a “reverse trade mission” led by the U.S. Trade & Development Agency, which seeks to facilitate connections between U.S. businesses and partner countries, in hopes of generating exports for the domestic companies. “This is a really big deal for us,” says William Pickrell, global business director for Albemarle’s environmental division. “This is a great opportunity to lay the groundwork for commercial success between the two countries.” Pickrell plans to visit China in April and will follow up with contacts from Monday’s event. Mercury is considered a neurotoxin, and the United States and China are moving toward regulation of mercury emissions. The U.S. Trade & Development Agency sponsors about 50 reverse trade missions per year, Director Leocadia Zak says. The agency says it helped The Shaw Group secure work on a petrochemical facility in Egypt, and Zak says another trade mission focused on emergency preparedness is planned for Louisiana in the fall. —David Jacobs