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.
