Arkema invests $45M to convert Calvert City unit for HFC-32 production
Key highlights
- Arkema will invest about $45 million to convert a Calvert City (Kentucky) unit to produce HFC-32 using Arkema‑patented technology.
- The Calvert City HFC-32 plant is scheduled to start up in 2007 and will be positioned to supply the North American market.
- With the addition, Calvert City will become the world’s largest HFC-32 production site, building on experience from Zaramillo (Spain), which began HFC-32 production in 2003.
- HFC-32 is a key component of refrigerant blends such as Forane®410A, which is being adopted as a successor to HCFC-22; Forane®22 phase-out in North America is scheduled to begin by 2010.
Investment and project scope
Arkema is investing approximately $45 million to convert an existing unit at its Calvert City, Kentucky site to produce HFC-32 refrigerant using Arkema‑patented technology.
Schedule and scale
The plant is scheduled to start up in 2007. Arkema says the Calvert City facility will become the world’s largest HFC-32 production site and will leverage technological experience from its Zaramillo HFC-32 plant launched in Spain in 2003.
Market role
HFC-32 is an essential component of next‑generation refrigerant blends, including Forane®410A, which is being adopted as the successor to HCFC-22. Forane®22 is scheduled to begin its phase-out in North America by 2010, underpinning demand for HFC‑based blends supplied from the new Calvert City capacity.
Source: webwire.com
