Tokai progress on carbon black emission cutbacks

Borger, Texas – Tokai Carbon CB Ltd. has progressed with upgrades across its carbon black production plants, as part of an agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control air emissions.

The work includes the installation of nitrogen oxide reduction equipment at the company's Big Spring, Texas, location.

At the company's site in Borger, NOX and sulphur dioxide reduction equipment is now in place. Work is expected to be completed by April on the project that will "dramatically" reduce those emissions from the facility, the company said.

In Addis, Louisiana, power generating equipment has been ordered, and NOX and sulphur dioxide reduction equipment will be ordered by the end of this year. This project will be completed by the end of 2022, according to current plans.

Tokai Carbon also has installed detection equipment and created operating procedures aimed at reducing particulate emissions at all three locations.

The company expects to spend a total of $148 million (€124 million) by the end of 2022 for improvements at the plant.

This includes $50 million that already has been committed and another $73 million expected to be spent under the agreement with EPA. 

In addition, Tokai is investing $25 million in power generating equipment at its Addis plant – an investment which is outside of the agreement. 

"After completion of the Addis project, TCCB will have process gas generated electricity at all three plants, exporting electricity at two facilities," the company said in a statement.