THe following article is from ACS weekly Chem.& Engineering News:

California soda ash producer to close plants

The inorganic chemical producer Searles Valley Minerals (SVM) is idling its soda ash and boric acid facilities in Trona and Argus, California, saying it cannot compete in international markets with overseas producers, particularly ones in China. International business accounts for about 60% of SVM’s sales. The firm also blames the high cost of energy and regulatory compliance in California. The plant shutdowns will affect about 300 employees involved in making the inorganic chemicals, which SVM extracts from below Searles Lake, a dry lake in the Mojave Desert. SVM says mineral operations will continue at its Westend, California, plant, where it produces sodium sulfate and sodium borate. SVM, which is one of only two US makers of boron products, notes that the US Geological Survey added boron to its list of critical minerals last year. SVM has been owned since 2007 by the Indian soda ash producer Nirma.—Michael McCoy