Lake Charles, La., chemicals complex operating at 80 percent of capacity

November 7, 2005 – PPG Industries’ Lake Charles, La., complex is operating at 80 percent of capacity, and force majeure has been lifted for most products manufactured at the company’s largest chemicals facility.

PPG issued the force majeure notice Sept. 26 after Hurricane Rita struck southwestern Louisiana.

Products no longer subject to force majeure are: chlorine, standard grade liquid caustic soda, hydrogen, ethylene dichloride, ethyl chloride, VersaTRANS chlorinated solvents, perchlorethylene, 1,1,1 trichloroethane and trichlorethylene.

“This is a credit not only to the technical skills of our people in Lake Charles, but also to their determination to restore operations as quickly as possible,” said Michael McGarry, vice president, chlor-alkali and derivatives. “Our current estimate is that the remaining 20 percent will be back online in the next few weeks.”

Products still subject to force majeure are: silicas, vinyl chloride, premium grade liquid caustic soda and Pels dry caustic soda beads. Progress continues to be made on restoring normal operations for products still under force majeure.

VersaTRANS and Pels are trademarks of PPG Industries.