OxyChem is temporarily idling its Geismar chemical plant because of weak overall demand. Stacey Crews, a company spokeswoman, says the plant will shut down production near the end of April. It’s not known when production will resume, but Crews says the shutdown will continue “through much of May.”
“We’re just waiting for the economic climate to improve,” Crews says. While the plant is idled, employees will perform maintenance work and go through training. The plant has about 400 employees and contract workers, Crews says. The Geismar plant produces chlorine and chlorinated organics, which are used as solvents.—Timothy Boone
