The Chemours Corpus Christi refrigerant plant in Ingleside became the world’s largest producer of automotive and other coolants when it went online in February. Courtesy photo
When Congress approves mandatory usage of a new, more eco-friendly refrigerant for automobiles a few years from now, Chemours Corpus Christi will be ready to fill the orders. Pronounced kim-oars, the nine-month old chemical company on Hwy 361 between Ingleside and Gregory is building a $230 million plant designed to produce HFO-1234yf refrigerant for vehicle air conditioners. The plant is expected to be in full operation by the end of 2018.
Already mandatory in Europe, the new hydrofluoric olefin refrigerant will not require a remake of auto air conditioners. It’s a “drop-in product” said Corpus Christi Chemours plant manager Bob Barger. While replacing it in cars and trucks will be as easy as switching products, producing it is not quite so simple.
“It needs a whole new facility to produce it,” Barger told Corpus Christi Business News. “It’s more more complicated to make, but Chemours developed the technology for the product. We hope to be the big player in it.”
Without the Corpus Christi plant, a global conversion over the next decade would be impossible, he continued.
“Right now, there is not the capacity to supply the need,” he said. “In Europe it has been mandated in all 2017 cars. The U.S. is negotiating to make it mandated in cars produced here in either 2020 or 2021. When it happens, we will have the ‘twelve thirty-four.’”
Twelve thirty-four does not have as big a carbon footprint as 134A, the current refrigerant used. While it doesn’t create an ozone hole like the chemical it replaced — Freon 12 — it is still rated as a global warming chemical.
“This new one,1234, is not an ozone depleter or a global warming chemical,” Barger said. “We also make 134A so the nice thing about this new product is that as it grows, 134A will shrink.”
Within 15 years, says Barger, 134A will not be a viable product. Corpus Christi workers need not worry about job losses, however, since Chemours is building for the future.
“Putting this here, makes sure this plant will be here a long time,” said Barger.
Choosing Corpus Christi as the site means the international company, with plants in Delaware, Switzerland, Peoples Republic of China and Mexico, says a lot about the importance of Corpus Christi in the company’s hierarchy, explained Barger. The expansion is the first major investment by Chemours since it was incorporated in July 2015.
“Corpus Christi is seen as one of their premiere manufacturing sites in terms of getting things done and operating plants safely,” Barger said. “It is viewed as one of the best. It is a real vote of confidence to site a facility like that here.”
Currently, the Corpus Christi location employs 200 people, along with another 125 contractors, construction workers and security personnel. The new plant will add 50 new workers. Twenty have already been hired. To find out what it takes to become a Chemour employee, check out the company’s career website at careers.chemours.com.
