PPG Industries (PPG) Declares Force Majeure at Lake Charles Complex; Sees Q4 Impact

PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) announced that it has declared force majeure for vinyl chloride monomer manufactured at the company’s Lake Charles, La., chemicals complex and for all grades of liquid caustic soda on a systemwide basis. The company did not provide an end date for the force majeure.

This force majeure is a direct result of a Dec. 24 fire at the Lake Charles chemicals complex. The fire affected the vinyl chloride monomer unit and did not result in any off-site environmental impact. One employee was transferred to the hospital and is currently being treated.

“The plant emergency response team did an excellent job extinguishing the fire quickly, however we must declare force majeure as a result of the damage and shutdown of the vinyl chloride monomer unit and reduced chlor-alkali operating rates,” said Michael H. McGarry, PPG executive vice president. “We realize this impacts our customers, and we are working to repair the unit as quickly as possible.”

The company added that the expense stemming from the equipment damage and lost sales volume will likely impact PPG’s Commodity Chemicals segment earnings by $5 million to $8 million in the fourth quarter 2012, and an incremental $2 million to $5 million in 2013 based on current information.

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