Our History | Commitment to Safety and the Environment | Community Involvement

Contact Us KM 6.5, Carr. Nanchital – Las Choapas El Chapo, Ixhuatlan del Sureste Veracruz 96360, Mexico Phone: 011.52.921.216.0739 Fax: 011.52.921.216.0742

Our Products and Markets

The El Chapo plant produces liquid organic peroxides and liquid organic chlorides. These products are used in many industries in the Americas in the production of such plastics as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and low density polyethylene, as well as in fiberglass resins and elastomers and rubber compounds.

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Our History

Petroquimica Pennwalt, the manufacturing subsidiary of Pennwalt Mexico, was formed in 1979. In 1983, the El Chapo manufacturing plant began producing organic peroxides. In 1997, Elf Atochem acquired Petroquimica Pennwalt. As part of a corporate name change to Arkema in 2004, the El Chapo site is now known as Luperox® Iniciadores S.A. de C.V.

Our Location

El Chapo is located in the southeastern part of the state of Veracruz, on the Gulf of Mexico. It is a part of the municipality of Ixhuatlan del Sureste, which is near the larger cities of Minatitlan and Coatzacoalcos on the Bay of Campeche. The area is home to one of Mexico’s largest refineries and is a center of the petrochemical industry.

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Commitment to Safety and the Environment

The employees at the El Chapo site are committed to working safely. The last recordable accident at the site was in 2002. The site follows the Modern Safety Management protocol and provides employees with frequent and comprehensive training. For 2005, the El Chapo site was awarded Arkema’s Safety Excellence Award – Silver – in recognition of employees working the entire year with no accidents resulting in days away from work or restricted work.

In 2003, 2004, and 2005, PROFEPA (the Mexican Federal Ministry for Environmental Protection) issued its “Clean Industry Certificate” (Certificado de Industria Limpia) to the El Chapo site for its efforts to maintain a clean facility that complies with applicable regulations.

The employees of the El Chapo site are proud of these honors and are constantly striving to find ways to enhance their commitment to safety and the environment. We are always looking for ways to reduce our emissions and releases and work with other company sites in developing best practices.

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Community Involvement

The El Chapo site respects the needs and concerns of its neighbors. Site management meets regularly with local officials to ensure that the community is aware of plant activities. The site has recently begun a series of plant tours to give local students, neighbors, and employees’ relatives a closer look at the facility and its commitment to safety and the environment.

The El Chapo site was proud to participate in the refurbishment of the 7 de Noviembre School in El Chapo. The company donated funds to rebuild the school’s foundation, and roof. In addition, the company helped pay for new electrical wiring, new drainage systems, new sidewalks, and new washrooms for the schoolchildren.