Salt Lake City-Dyno Nobel has decided to cease nitric acid production at its facility in Maitland, Ont., but will continue to produce urea ammonium nitrate, according to a statement released from the company’s Salt Lake City offices. “A review of operations at Dyno Nobel’s facility at Maitland which began some 12 months ago has led to a decision to cease nitric acid production,” the statement disclosed. “Production of acid will be shut down on or about July 15, when the ammonia stored on site is consumed. Since the middle of last year, there has been the orderly closure of two nitric acid plants and two ammonium nitrate plants.” Site Manager Daryl Baker said earlier that acid production would be transferred to Dyno Nobel facilities in Missouri and Pennsylvania. “There will be no immediate impact on site staffing levels because the Maitland site will continue to produce urea ammonium nitrate and will operate all ancillary equipment,” he said. The review of operations at Maitland began in May 2009 with the closure of the nearby Invista plant, which at one point consumed some 40 percent of the plant’s nitric acid production, and because of the general softening in customer demand. Baker added, “The acid plant will be mothballed as has been done with the other plants previously shut down. Mothballing protects against corrosion and prepares the plants for a potential restart, which is dependent on the recovery in customer demand.” Dyno Nobel America acquired Maitland nitrogen assets from Nitrochem Corp. in December 2005, including three nitric acid plants and two ammonium nitrate plants. Dyno Nobel is a leading supplier of industrial explosives and blasting services to the mining, quarrying, seismic, and construction industries, employing more than 3,300 people and operating 36 manufacturing facilities in Australia, Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
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