The largest US chemical maker, Dow Chemical Co., has temporarily suspended its dock operations at two of its three crackers along the Mississippi river in Louisiana.The largest US chemical maker, Dow Chemical Co., has temporarily suspended its dock operations at two of its three crackers along the Mississippi river in Louisiana.

The step has been taken as a precautionary measure based on water-level projections which indicate a possibility of flooding from the swollen Mississippi river.

Heavy rain and melted snow have resulted in the swelling of Mississippi and Ohio rivers, which are inundating cities and towns along the banks, flooding agricultural land and even disrupting shipping.

The three ethylene plants of Dow located along the course of the river are Plaquemine 2, Plaquemine 3, and Taft 1. Plaquemine 2 and Plaquemine 3, both lying south of Baton Rouge, have production capacities of 499,000 tons and 758,000 tons of ethylene a year, respectively. Taft 1, which lies west of New Orleans at the St. Charles site in Hahnville, has a capacity to produce 610,000 tons of ethylene a year.

The company is not anticipating inundation at any of these sites, and hence has suspended only dock work. The company is trying to minimize the impact from the unwarranted situation and further decision would be taken only after the water level in the river subsides.
POST: 2025-05-02