Arkema plans to close down French methyl ethyl ketone site

14-Mar-09

France's leading chemical producer, Arkema recently presented to the Central Works Council a plan to close down production at the La Chambre (France) industrial site by end 2009. The site specializes in the production of various amines and oxygenated solvents, including methyl ethyl ketone used primarily in paint and varnish manufacture. As per the company, the close down is particularly due to dearth of supply of secondary feedstock butanol souced from the Total Petrochemicals plant in Notre-Dame de Gravenchon. In addition, the plan also entails divesting its methyl ethyl ketone marketing and sales assets to Sasol Solvents Germany GmbH (Germany) subject to discussions with Arkema France personnel representative bodies as well as the approval of merger control authorities in some countries.