OxyChem Becomes First Mercury-Free Caustic Potash Producer in North America, Completing Conversion of Taft, LA, Plant

TAFT, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Occidental Chemical Corporation (OxyChem) announced today that it has become the only mercury-free producer of caustic potash in North America. With this move and the shutdown of OxyChem's Muscle Shoals chlor-alkali plant, OxyChem has also ceased all mercury cell based production in North America.

OxyChem completed the conversion of its membrane chlor-alkali plant at Taft, Louisiana to be able to produce potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) using membrane cell technology which is the safest and most advanced mercury-free method of production. OxyChem had also previously converted its Mobile, Alabama plant to caustic potash production using membrane cell technology. The state-of-the-art, $60 million-dollar conversion enables the Taft membrane plant to produce caustic potash rather than sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) as a co-product in the manufacture of chlorine. Caustic potash is a base chemical used in many industrial products and processes, including food processing, fertilizers, water treatment, detergents, batteries, catalysts, and oil refining.

"OxyChem is proud to be the first mercury-free caustic potash-producer in North America and to have eliminated all mercury cell production within its facilities in North America as well," said Chuck Anderson, President of Occidental Chemical Corporation. "Our ability to offer all of our caustic soda and caustic potash customers product made in a non-mercury cell process reinforces our position as an industry leader in chlor-alkali production in North America." With Oxy's exit from mercury-cell production, there remain only four producers using mercury-cell technology in the U.S.

"Our operations in Louisiana and in Mobile, Alabama are now positioned for long-term sustainable future growth," said Chuck Anderson.

OxyChem is the nation's largest merchant marketer of chlorine and caustic soda. The Taft facility, with approximately 320 employees, has a production capacity of 758,000 tons per year of chlorine. Taft is one of four OxyChem plants in Louisiana, which collectively employ more than 900 people.

About Oxy

OxyChem, which manufactures and markets chlor-alkali products and vinyls, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY). Occidental Petroleum Corporation is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Middle East/North Africa and Latin America regions. Oxy is the fourth largest U.S. oil and gas company, based on equity market capitalization. Oxy is committed to safeguarding the environment, protecting the safety and health of employees and neighboring communities and upholding high standards of social responsibility in all of the company's worldwide operations.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this release that contain words such as "will," "expect," or "estimate," or otherwise relate to the future, are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results. Factors that could cause results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: global commodity pricing fluctuations and supply/demand considerations for oil, gas and chemicals; higher-than-expected costs; political risk; operational interruptions; changes in tax rates and not successfully completing (or any material delay in) any expansion, capital expenditure, acquisition, or disposition. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date of this release. Unless legally required, Occidental does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. U.S. investors are urged to consider carefully the disclosure in our Form 10-K, available through the following toll-free telephone number, 1-888-OXYPETE (1-888-699-7383) or on the Internet at http://www.oxy.com. You also can obtain a copy from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.