Newly Named Arkema Nears Completion of Major Unit Addition with J/V in Texas

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Arkema Incorporated (Paris, France), a subsidiary of Total S.A. (NYSE:TOT), is nearing the completion of a new MMP (3-methylthiopropionaldehyde) unit addition at its plant site in Beaumont, Texas. This new unit will be owned and operated under a joint venture with Novus International Incorporated (Saint Louis, Missouri). Industrialinfo.com originally reported on this project as part of its North American Projects Database back in February 2002.

Construction of the nearly $100 million project began early last year under the direction of the project's E&C firm, Jacobs Engineering Group Incorporated (Pasadena, California). Construction activities will be winding down as the New Year approaches and commercial operation of the estimated 68,000 ton per year MMP unit, as well as a new 36,000 ton per year acrolein unit are scheduled for March or April of 2005.

Arkema is planning to bring the unit online in Spring 2005 without any major turnaround of the existing Beaumont plant operations. In fact, Arkema is not planning another major plant-wide maintenance turnaround until Spring or Summer 2006, as it recently completed a major turnaround earlier this year.

Formerly known as Atofina Chemicals, effective October 1, 2004, Arkema is a new unit of Total, encompassing the vinyl products, industrial chemicals, and performance products. Employing over 19,000 people globally, Arkema operates manufacturing and R&D centers in North America, Europe, and Asia.

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