According to Platts news, Romanian Petrom has closed its Arpechim 20,000 t/yr No. 1 acrylonitrile (ACN) plant on May 2 because the unit did not meet EU environmental standards.
According to a Petrom spokesperson, the ACN device built in 1969 will require substantial investment to meet the EU environmental standards that will take effect next year, so the company has to make a shutdown decision. Petrom believes that the economic performance of the device is not worth a large investment. After the device is closed, its equipment will be cleaned and disinfected and then removed.
The company also has another 60,000-ton/year ACN unit and a 75,000-barrel/day refinery at the same location.