INEOS Enterprises diverts thousands of tonnes of salt to de-ice UK roads
INEOS diverts thousands of tonnes of de-icing salt bound for Germany to UK
INEOS steps up salt distribution to local council
50 lorries to leave INEOS Runcorn site tomorrow
"INEOS is aware of the salt shortages in the UK and the problems this is causing everyone", says Harry Deans, INEOS CEO. "12,000 Tonnes of de-icing salt will not solve the problem but it should make a difference in the places most severly affected."
INEOS, Britain’s biggest private company and the world’s third largest chemical company, today announced that it is diverting thousands of tonnes of salt bound for industrial use in Germany to be used for de-icing in the UK.
In total, INEOS will make available an additional 12,000 tonnes of road salt for local councils across Britain including Pembrokeshire, Gloucester, Bradford, Sheffield and Fife. The first fifty trucks will leave INEOS Runcorn salt distribution facility on Sunday morning (January 10th) and a further fifty trucks are scheduled to leave on Monday.
In addition, INEOS has increased its salt production to maximum capacity and is now producing a further 3,000 tonnes of road salt destined for the areas that need it most.
“INEOS is aware of the salt shortages in the UK and the problems this is causing”, says Harry Deans, INEOS CEO. “12,000 tonnes of salt will not solve the de-icing problem but it should make a difference in the places most severely affected”.
In the medium term, INEOS is also considering introducing a grade of white pavement salt to help prevent pedestrians from slipping on snow and ice.
Harry Deans adds, “There is no doubt that the severity of this winter took everyone by surprise. It has raised questions about both the size of the UK’s road salt reserve and the need to salt pavements. INEOS is more than willing to play its part in addressing both these issues”.
Media contacts:
Richard Longden (INEOS) 02380 287037 or 07710 371998
Mediazoo 0207 978 7667
Notes to editors:
INEOS is the world’s third largest chemicals company and a leading manufacturer of petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and oil products. Comprising 18 businesses, with a production network spanning 70 manufacturing facilities in 14 countries. The company produces more than 40 million tonnes of petrochemicals, 20 million tons per annum of crude oil refined products (fuels). INEOS employs 16,000 people and has sales of around $47bn.