Light, air conditioning return to most areas in Lake Charles plant; staffing turns to two-shift operation

October 3, 2005 - The return of electric power to most areas and the switch from an emergency work crew to two-shift operations were milestones this weekend in the restoration of PPG’s Lake Charles, La., chemicals plant.

Employees restored power last Friday, enabling the chlor-alkali facility to generate the minimum amount of electricity needed for the plant's basic infrastructure.

"This is an important first step and a significant accomplishment," said Kevin Sullivan, senior vice president, chemicals. "However, we still have a lot of work ahead of us."

Sullivan said the company remains uncertain when production will resume in the wake of Hurricane Rita, which forced the plant to shut down last Thursday as the Category 3 storm neared southwestern Louisiana.

The facility’s workforce has grown from the approximately 160-member emergency staff that rode out Rita to a 250-person staff that began operating on two shifts Saturday, according to Jon Manns, Lake Charles plant manager. The current staff comprises about 80 percent of the former emergency staff, and others whose services were requested to serve in the rotation.

Restoration of electricity at the facility means the return of air conditioning – good news for those working in the sweltering Louisiana heat during the day and sleeping within the complex at night, Manns said.