KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |PPG unveils new $100 million chlorine unit

PPG unveils new $100 million chlorine unit

August 21, 2007
By Theresa Schmidt

Mercury has long been a lingering problem in the environment in Louisiana, resulting in advisories to limit fish consumption. The local PPG plant has been a significant source of mercury but that's changing now.

PPG Industries was often targeted by environmental groups for its manufacture of chlorine-- in particular the use of mercury in the process. But now the company has built a new $100 million  unit to produce chlorine and caustic soda without mercury.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality commends PPG for switching to the state of the art technology. Chris Piehler is the director of DEQ's clean water program.  "It reduces the amount of mercury they'll release dramatically, well over ninety to ninety five per cent. For the most part this has been one of the largest sources in Louisiana and we're very, very pleased to see them reduce, convert technology to one that is non mercury alternatives."

 Citizens who serve on PPG's Community Advisory Panel are also pleased. Member Fred Rickman says they are glad to see a reduction in mercury. "I think there were concerns on all levels and now we don't have those concerns. It's obvious when you spend a $100 million to improve something,  that you care about the quality of life here in Southwest Louisiana."

 And company officials say the new unit helps to make the company more competitive in the world economy since it's more energy efficient. Jon Manns is the Lake Charles plant manager:  "For us to stay in the competition and be a leader we have to stay up with the technology and this technology represents a change that makes the same production capacity but for twenty five per cent less power costs and it also improves our operational and maintenance costs and significant improvement for our environmental performance."

PPG's Lake Charles complex is the largest chemical plant in Southwest Louisiana and within the PPG company. It employs 1300 people. For the latest on mercury related fish advisories in Louisiana click here.