Solvay will double the capacity of its Santo Andre vinyls plant in Brazil following approval of a $150m (ˆ117m) investment.
Its Brazilian affiliate Solvay Indupa will expand and modernise its vinyls production plant in anticipation of rapidly growing demand in Latin America, it said. The project will increase capacity from 150,000tpa to 300,000tpa of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and PVC.
The Santo Andre plant’s electrolysis unit will be upgraded with modern membrane technology while the VCM and PVC facility will be equipped with larger, more competitive equipment. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008.
Jacques van Rijckevorsel, general manager of the plastics sector at Solvay, said: “Solvay is implementing a consistent strategy of sustainable and profitable growth, feeding on geographical expansion and constant improvements to stay at the leading edge of competitiveness.”
Solvay holds 62.7% of Solvay Indupa, which has another production facility in Bahia Blanca, Argentina.
