INEOS buys Dow's gas treating amines business

Feb. 13, 2001
INEOS PLC has purchased Dow Chemical Co.'s US and Canadian GAS/SPEC gas treating amines business. Also included was Dow's ethanolamine (EOA) manufacturing assets in Plaquemine, La., and its global EOA business. The US Federal Trade Commission required Dow to sell the businesses as a condition of its merger with Union Carbide Corp.


HOUSTON, Feb. 13�Effective Monday, INEOS PLC purchased Dow Chemical Co.'s US and Canadian GAS/SPEC gas treating amines business.

Also included was Dow's ethanolamine (EOA) manufacturing assets in Plaquemine, La., and its global EOA business.

The US Federal Trade Commission required Dow to sell the businesses as a condition of its merger with Union Carbide Corp.

INEOS will have access to100% of the monodiethanolamine (MDEA) capacity of Dow's Freeport, Tex., plant. Dow will continue to own and operate the asset.

INEOS will operate Dow's ethylene oxide derivatives (EOD) block on the Plaquemine site as a contract manufacturer, including Dow's polyglycols and glycol ethers facilities. All DOW operations personnel at Plaquemine have become INEOS employees, as have key business and technical employees of the EOA and GAS/SPEC businesses.

INEOS PLC is the UK's second largest chemical company, with a net of $3 billion/year, 6,000 employees, and 35 facilities worldwide.

The company's five divisions are focused on ethylene oxide and ethylene oxide derivatives , methacrylate monomers, Lucite/Perspex and derivatives, chlor-chemicals, Klea hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, and silicas/zeolites.

Bill Reid, INEOS business director, said "The EOA and GAS/SPEC businesses fit perfectly with our business strategy and further marks our commitment to substantially growing our EOD portfolio."