Occidental Chemical Corporation announces plan to build membrane cell chlor-alkali plant

Occidental Chemical Corporation, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation, today announced plans to construct a membrane cell chlor-alkali plant adjacent to DuPont’s Johnsonville titanium dioxide plant in Humphreys County, Tennessee. Under an agreement between the two companies, OxyChem would supply chlorine and caustic soda to DuPont and utilize raw materials and services provided by DuPont. DuPont uses chlorine and caustic soda to produce titanium dioxide, a white pigment widely used in the coatings, paper, plastics and laminates industries. OxyChem’s new chlor-alkali facility will be designed to produce up to 182,500 short tons of liquid chlorine and 200,000 dry short tons of membrane caustic soda per year. The proposed OxyChem plant would ensure the availability of a supply of key raw materials for the DuPont Johnsonville facility -- the largest such plant in the world -- with a current workforce of approximately 900.