Mississippi Phosphates Corp. announced Jan. 25 that one of its sulfuric acid plants will be out of production for approximately 30 days to replace the internal components of a boiler in the plant. The affected plant is one of two 1,500 ton-per-day sulfuric acid plants at the company’s phosphate fertilizer facility in Pascagoula, Miss.
In July 2007, the internals of the boiler (boiler tubes and tube sheets) in question suffered a major failure. Miss Phos says the contractor retained by the company to assemble and install the replacement internal components of the boiler has failed to deliver an operationally reliable boiler. The latest failure of the boiler has led the company to conclude that further efforts by the contractor to correct its prior defective work are unlikely to be successful. As a result, the company has engaged another contractor to assemble and install new internal components in the boiler. It is estimated that the work can be completed within 30 days, with replacement parts already on site. Until the idled sulfuric acid plant is returned to service, DAP production will be limited to approximately 900 tons per day.
In October 2007, the company filed suit against the contractor seeking to recover damages caused by the contractor’s failure to complete its work in a proper and timely manner. The company intends to vigorously pursue its claims in these pending legal proceedings.