Braskem rules out relocation of chlor-alkali facility

Brazilian petrochemical producer Braskem (NYSE: BAK) has ruled out transferring its chlor-alkali facility in Brazil's Alagoas state capital Maceió to another location, following an accident on May 21 that led to the hospitalization of 130 people. Marketing director Milton Pradines said a relocation would not be financially viable and that the option has not been considered by Braskem. Some local politicians have called for Braskem to shut down operations at the site permanently. The firm plans to invest 1bn reais (US$632mn) in the construction of a new PVC plant in Marechal Deodoro in the same state, according to vinyl director Marcelo Cerqueira. The plant, which will have annual production capacity of 200,000t, is due to start operating in the first half of 2012 and will make Alagoas state the largest producer of PVC in Latin America.