MONHEIM AM RHEIN, GERMANY: Oxea said that it has successfully restarted operations at its production sites in Bay City and Bishop, Texas, US, after the controlled shutdown due to the landfall of Hurricane Harvey by end of August.
The hurricane was one of the most powerful storms to hit US for years. Oxea’s units are back in operation mode and have started production of specified material. Although the units are not yet back at full capacities, Oxea was able to repeal force majeure for several products. While logistics are still a state-wide challenge, Oxea’s logistics team works closely with its customers to arrange shipments matching with their needs.
Due to fortunate circumstances, the impact of the hurricane and subsequent flooding was less damaging than forecasted, and only minor issues have been identified at the site. In Bay City, Oxea is currently implementing one of its largest investment projects: the construction of the new propanol production unit “Propanol 2”, scheduled for completion in 2018.
“Except for a slight schedule delay, the Propanol 2 project suffered very little impact from Hurricane Harvey,” said Markus Heuwes, Propanol 2 project director at Oxea.
“The safety of our employees was of primary concern when we shut down the Bay City and Bishop plants and prepared for the storm. Our thoughts are with the huge number of people whose lives have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Now we are working closely with our employees that were significantly affected by the storm and who are dealing with damage and flooding of their personal property and impact on their family and friends,” said Salim Al Huthaili, CEO of Oxea.
“Everyone has worked together as a team to recover from the weather emergency. The emphasis placed on safety and the dedication to service our customers has been outstanding. Our thanks go to the entire Oxea team who helped securing the site and ensured a quick restart,” added Fred Gaytan, Oxea’s Bay City and Bishop site director.
© Worldofchemicals News