Westlake's Kentucky PVC complex spared damage from violent storms: spokesman

Westlake Chemical's polyvinyl chloride complex in Kentucky lost power when tornado-laden storms whipped through parts of the state Dec. 11, but units sustained no damage, a company spokesman said in an email Dec. 13.

"A major tornado passed about five miles south of plant," spokesman Chip Swearngan said in a statement. "While the plant was not damaged, it lost all electrical power, which has impacted near-term plant operations."

Swearngan confirmed Dec. 13 that the complex's power had been restored and units were operational. The complex has a 680,388 mt/year PVC unit, a 680,000 mt/year upstream vinyl chloride monomer plant, a 331,763 mt/year cracker and a chlor-alkali unit that can produce up to 249.475 mt/year of chlorine and 274,423 mt/year of caustic soda.

PVC is a construction staple used to make pipes, window frames, vinyl siding and other products, while caustic soda, a byproduct of chlorine production, is a key feedstock for alumina and pulp and paper industries.

He also said the company had accounted for employees who were safe from the storm, but some had damaged homes.

The string of violent storms erupted on Dec. 10, moving through five states including Kentucky. Mayfield, a city of 10,000 that is 32 miles southwest of Calvert City, was largely leveled by the storm, including a candle factory with 110 workers inside, according to the Kentucky Governor's Office.

From Mayfield, the cluster of storms moved northeast through Benton, 17 miles south of Calvert City, then further east.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Dec. 13 that the systems spawned at least four tornadoes, and one stayed on the ground for at least 200 miles, "devastating anything in its path."

He said the state had confirmed 64 deaths, and "undoubtedly there will be more."