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
The Coastal Bend is now home to the largest refrigerant production facility in the world. Chemours Co. announced Feb. 12 that its new Opteon YF (HFO-1234yf) refrigerant production facility in Ingleside has gone online, making what it calls low global warming-potential refrigerant for air conditioners, refrigerators, and chillers.
The new plant will triple the global capacity of (HFO) 1234-yf-based products.
“The startup completes the final phase of the $300 million project we started in 2016,” said Mark Vergnano, Chemours president and CEO. “This milestone is a tangible example of our steadfast commitment to providing the world with low GWP (global warming potential) that are better for the environment.”
The refrigerant industry worldwide is currently transitioning to this next generation of refrigerants. The product now used in automative air conditioning has a GWP 99.9 percent lower than the refrigerant that it replaces.
“Our U.S. facility reinforces our commitment to meet the needs of our mobile and stationary refrigerant customers through unmatched capacity, capability, and quality,” said Paul Kirsch, president of Chemours Fluoroproducts in a media release. “This also means our production facilities will be closer to our customers in North America and Europe as well as around the world.”
Chemours has been in the refrigerant business for 90 years. The company is a spinoff of DuPont, which sold its first product, sulfuric acid, in 1865. Office headquarters are in Wilmington, Delaware.
