PITTSBURGH, PA, Feb 20, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --Koppers Holdings Inc.'s (NYSE: KOP) Australian operations have experienced a leak of material from one of their storage tanks at a terminal facility in Portland, Victoria, Australia. The release was detected on Saturday, February 18. The Koppers facility, built in 1994, is situated on land leased from the Port of Portland.
The material, coal tar pitch, is used in the manufacture of carbon anodes for the aluminum electrolysis process. The material is stored at elevated temperature and solidifies at ambient temperatures. To date, all material has been contained within the tank farm area with no release of material to water or soil.
Coordination of the cleanup of the released material is ongoing. Plans are underway to remove the remaining material from the tank so the tank can be accessed for repair.
The incident is being coordinated by the Country Fire Association in conjunction with other local authorities and is being monitored by the Australian Environmental Protection Authority. Koppers has been and will continue to work closely with the responsible local authorities, customers, suppliers and insurance advisors.
About Koppers Koppers, with corporate headquarters and a research center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a global integrated producer of carbon compounds and treated wood products. Including its joint ventures, Koppers operates facilities in the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, The Netherlands, Australia and China. The stock of Koppers Holdings Inc. is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "KOP." For more information, visit us on the Web: www.koppers.com. Questions concerning investor relations should be directed to Leroy M. Ball at 412 227 2118 or Michael W. Snyder at 412 227 2131.
Safe Harbor Statement This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the company's strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "projects," "indicates," and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Koppers, particularly its latest annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as others, could cause results to differ materially from those stated. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the laws, regulations, policies and economic conditions, including inflation, interest and foreign currency exchange rates, of countries in which the Company does business; competitive pressures; the loss of one or more key customer or supplier relationships; customer insolvencies; successful integration of structural changes, including restructuring plans, acquisitions, divestitures and alliances; cost and availability of raw materials; and other economic, business, competitive, regulatory and/or operational factors affecting the business of Koppers generally.
For Information: Leroy M. Ball Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 412 227 2118 Email Contact
SOURCE: Koppers Holdings Inc.
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