26 September 2006 – Akzo Nobel officially opens its two new chemicals plants in the Netherlands today, marking the completion of the company’s biggest ever chemicals investment in the country.
Akzo committed ˆ200m into the project with the Dutch government contributing ˆ65m on approval from the European Commission.
The opening of the chlorine and monochloroacetic acid (MCA) facilities in Delfzijl is due to be attended by the Dutch State Secretary for the Environment, Pieter van Geel.
Establishment of the new facility involved the relocation of activities from Hengelo and was described by the company as a “landmark occasion” in that it signalled the end of Akzo’s regular Dutch chlorine transports by rail.
Hans Wijers, ceo, said building the new plants: “would not have been possible without the full support of the authorities, with this project offering concrete proof of what can be achieved through a successful public/private partnership.”
Leif Darner, board member responsible for chemicals, added: “The new Delfzijl MCA plant is one of the largest of its kind in the world and will benefit from having a key raw materials – chlorine – supplied on-site by our second new factory, which uses state-of-the-art membrane cell technology and is the first of its kind in Europe.”
Chlorine produced by the new facility will be carried downstream via pipeline to several users at the Delfzijl chemicals park the largest of which will be the new Akzo MCA plant.
