Sasol And Westlake Shut Chemical Plants Over the Arrival of Hurricane Laura in Texas and Lousiana

Ahead of the necessary evacuation steps required in response to storm accompanying Hurricane Laura, South Africa-based Sasol has announced shut down of its operations at its Lake Charles facility which include expansion of its 1.5 million mtpa cracker, a 470 KTPA linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant and a 380 KTPA Ethylene Oxide/Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) plant. The facility also holds a new 420 KTPA LDPE plant slated to come onstream in September this year. In addition, the Westlake Chemical also suspended operations at its Lake Charles complex, comprising of three chlor-alkali units; two vinyl chloride monomer plants with a combined capacity of 953 KTPA; two crackers with a combined capacity of 1.19 million mt/year; 200 KTPA of LLDPE plant; and a 386 KTPA LDPE plant. The complex also houses a 258 KTPA Styrene plant. More than half a million people were asked to vacate the Gulf Coast on Tuesday as Laura strengthened to form a Hurricane and appeared to knock Texas and Louisiana on Wednesday.