HOUSTON, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Westlake Chemical Corporation (NYSE: WLK) announced this morning that its petrochemical complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana, consisting of ethylene, styrene, and polyethylene units, apparently sustained only minor physical damage from Hurricane Rita. Onsite personnel are currently monitoring the facilities to ensure conditions allow for a safe and timely return to operations. The complex is in a safe, shut-down mode awaiting the restoration of utilities and feedstock supplies.
Westlake performed an orderly shut-down of its Lake Charles complex on Thursday, September 22 in advance of the hurricane. The company will begin a start-up of the units as soon as conditions permit, including the return of employees from the Lake Charles area who are recovering from the effects of the storm.
Westlake also announced that its vinyls complex in Geismar, Louisiana, suffered minimal hurricane related damage. The site is currently awaiting the restoration of natural gas service in order to resume normal operations.