Elf Atochem recently signed an agreement through its subsidiary Ceca with the Polish company Soda-Matwy for the purchase of a molecular sieves production plant in Inowroclaw, closed to Poznan.

Capital expenditure of some FFr 50 m is to be committed without delay both to refurbish the plant and increase its production capacity.

The operation complements the current increase in molecular sieves capacity at the Honfleur site (France).

These latest investments will help Elf Atochem consolidate its position as the world's third leading molecular sieve producer as well as continue the international expansion of its performance product activity.

Molecular sieves are mineral chemical compounds used for their selective molecule adsorption capabilities to purify liquids and gases.

They are used for example for drying air in double glazing, natural gas desulfidation, extracting oxygen form air, and paraxylene purification.

The molecular sieves world market is estimated at some 100,000 tonne/year.