Indorama to shutdown Australian oxides plant after 50 years

Thailand integrated chemical firm Indorama says it will close its 100,00 tonnes/year integrated oxides and derivative business in Botany, Sydney, Australia, after 50 years of operation in the country. This comes after Australia’s major ethylene manufacturer Qenos’ announced it is shutting its plant down in Botany, too.

It mixes the ethylene sourced from Qenos with a range of other materials to make more than 250 specialised products, including surfactants used in industrial and household cleaning products.

The closure of Qenos and Indorama will cost Australia its self-sufficiency in hundreds of products that are integral to industry, defence, and everyday household products.

On top of that, 110 jobs will go at Indorama’s Botany plant.

Indorama bought the plant in 2020 from Huntsman, including sites at Port Neches, Chocolate Bayou and Dayton in Texas, Ankleshwar in India, and Botany in Australia.

The Botany facility in Sydney is close-coupled to facilities that supply the two major raw materials – ethylene and oxygen for the manufacture of ethylene oxide, and downstream derivatives including glycols, glycol ethers, and non-ionic surfactants.

Products from this facility are used in various industries, including agriculture, mining, cleaning, personal care, and automotive brake fluids and coolants.