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(ICIS) -- Louisiana chemical plants along
the Mississippi river have started pre-shipping material in anticipation of high
water, said Dan Borne, president of the Louisiana Chemical Association. If the
river gets too high, it could prevent plants from receiving raw materials and
from shipping out product, Borne said.
Some plants could rely on railroads or trucks for shipments, he said. But
others deal in such large volumes that shipping costs could rise
tremendously.
Plants could store some of their product in warehouses until water levels
fall, Borne said. But that will depend on both the amount of on-site storage and
the type of the chemical being produced.
Rising waters could also cover up pipes from which plants discharge
effluent, Borne said. That also could disrupt operations. Borne could not
quantify the extent of the disruptions since each of the plants are so
different, he said.
A source with Cornerstone Chemicals reported that its 60
KTa melamine plant in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was “high and dry” and
there were no plans for a shutdown. Meanwhile, the US is taking steps to take
pressure off the river.
mrcplast.com
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