Sunoco Not Rebuilding Burnt Out Plant

Sunoco will close the ethylene complex at the Marcus Hook Refinery, weeks after it was shut down because of an explosion and fire.

Forty to 50 employees will be laid off.

There is not enough demand for ethylene, ethylene oxide and cyclohexane to justify repairing or replacing equipment that was damaged in the explosion on May 17, said Sunoco spokesman Thomas Golembeski Monday.

The polymers manufacturing facility next to the refinery, which used ethylene from the refinery, will operate using an alternate supply, according to Golembski.

There were no injuries in the explosion and blaze at the refinery. Preliminary findings indicate a pipe failure resulted in the release of combustible ethylene gas, but the cause of the pip failure is still under investigation.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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