Hurricane hammers US chemical industry

Hurricane Harvey has ravaged south-east Texas – the focal point of America’s speciality and petrochemicals industry – profoundly affecting the sector. Of the 132 petrochemical sites located along the Houston Ship Channel, including refineries and speciality chemical facilities, at least one-third and up to half are offline.

At Arkema’s plant in Crosby, unprecedented flooding levels overwhelmed the primary power supply as well as two emergency backups. As a result, Arkema lost critical refrigeration of the organic peroxides that it manufactures at the plant. One container of peroxides warmed to dangerous levels on 31 August. The container burst – locals reported hearing two blasts – and the peroxides within ignited, sending black smoke about 40 feet into the air above the plant.