Olin Chlor Alkali Products has broken ground on a new, $160 million state-of-the-art membrane cell manufacturing plant in Charleston, TN. The new facility is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012 when it will produce the chlorine, caustic soda and related products and have a capacity of 200,000 tons, including an expansion of the plant’s production of potassium hydroxide (KOH). Once installation of the new technology is in place at the Charleston plant in 2012, mercury will not be a part of the manufacturing process.The State of Tennessee provided generous incentives to assist with the financing of the project, including $41 million of tax-exempt variable rate Recovery Zone Facility.