PPG Industries on Thursday declared force majeure for vinyl chloride monomer manufactured at its local complex and for liquid
caustic soda systemwide.
The declaration — made to protect a company from being sued for not fulfilling a contract — was a result of the Dec. 24 fire,
which left one worker injured, PPG officials said.
The fire, which reportedly had no off-site environmental impact, damaged the vinyl chloride monomer unit and slowed production,
said Michael H. McGarry, PPG executive vice president. The company did not say when the force majeure would end.
PPG said the expense stemming from the
equipment damage and lost sales volume would likely cut fourth-quarter
commodity chemicals
earnings by up to $8 million.
It took a little more than 30 minutes to put out the fire Monday, a plant spokesman said. Residents noticed a huge column
of smoke around the area.
Jeremy Neuhart, a corporate spokesman at PPG, said he did not know what happened to the injured worker, who remains in West
Calcasieu Cameron Hospital.