Major Carbon Black Producer Is Gearing Up To Construct a New 45 Megawatt Cogeneration Unit Addition in Louisiana

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Columbian Chemicals Company (Marietta, Georgia), a subsidiary of Phelps Dodge Corporation (Phoenix, Arizona), will construct a 45MW cogeneration unit at its Centerville, Louisiana carbon black plant (Plant 1013967). The new unit will supply power and steam to the carbon black plant as well as to the merchant market.

Primary Energy (Oak Brook, Illinois) is the developer for the multi-million dollar project and will perform the front-end engineering (PEC 02004066). The engineering and construction contract has recently been awarded to Zachry Construction Company Corporation (San, Antonio, Texas) who is in the early stages of detailed engineering. The bidding process should begin in the next few months for specialty contractors with construction slated for sometime this fall, and the unit is expected to be generating power and steam in the summer of next year.

Carbon Black is an engineered compound used in tires and other mechanical goods that enhance product strength and durability. It is also used for pigments in paints, inks and plastic products. Made primarily from petroleum based feedstock, the oil heated at an excessive rate begins a cracking process and releases a gas heavy in carbon black powder. The product then passes through several filters to release the gas products from the carbon black.

Columbian Chemicals is one of the leaders in carbon black production, producing over one million metric tons a year. They have production locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia so they can effectively and strategically satisfy global market demands. Phelps Dodge is the world’s second largest copper producer and the world’s largest producer of continuous-cast copper rod, carbon black and magnet wire.