ICIG Kicks Off €50 Million Investment at PPC in Thann

PPC, a company of WeylChem Group, the fine chemicals platform of International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG), has secured bank financing from Commerzbank for the conversion of the mercury electrolysis plant. The equity portion of the financing will be provided by ICIG.

PPC will convert its production of Chlorine and Potassium derivatives via a mercury based electrolysis to membrane technology. This project is expected to last 28 months. Due to its environmental side effects, mercury based technology will be prohibited by French regulation after the year 2019. In parallel, PPC is to carry out an upgrade and extension of the current bromine recovery capabilities on site which should lead to significant cost savings for bromine. The duration of this project is expected to be 24 months. The total investment for both projects will be €53 million.

Chemieanlagenbau Chemnitz ("CAC") has been selected to build the new membrane electrolysis plant and the bromine recovery plant for PPC. CAC has extensive experience in the segment of erection, re-vamping and expanding electrolysis plants.

As per French regulation, this project is subject to consultation by PPC's work council.