INEOS Inovyn has agreed to acquire the UK’s only Ethylene Dichloride (EDC) production asset, located at Runcorn, industry publication Hydrocarbon Processing reported. The asset is held by joint venture partner Vynova Runcorn, which entered administration in 2025, with INEOS Inovyn set to acquire the remaining stake, production assets and workforce, it is reported.
The Runcorn EDC production facility being acquired is reported to supply approximately 98% of the chlorine used in UK drinking water treatment, making it critical infrastructure. INEOS Inovyn, which already held a 50% stake, will fully consolidate the chlor-alkali value chain by acquiring the remaining stake and production assets, it is said. The transaction is expected to close within the year.
The acquisition covers Vynova Runcorn’s remaining 50% stake along with the Runcorn EDC production assets and workforce, with the facility confirmed to supply approximately 98% of chlorine used in UK drinking water treatment. The specific acquisition value has not been disclosed.
With the continuity of essential UK chemical infrastructure thrown into uncertainty by its joint venture partner’s administration, INEOS Inovyn is reported to have responded by acquiring full ownership to keep the facility operating. This is interpreted as a measure to ensure stable operation of chemical infrastructure linked to essential services such as public water treatment.
Amid restructuring in parts of the chemical industry, assets with essential-infrastructure characteristics are increasingly being preserved through mergers and acquisitions. This illustrates how supply reliability is becoming an increasingly important competitive factor in basic chemical value chains such as chlor-alkali.
Key points to watch include when the transaction closes and the operating and investment plans for the Runcorn facility following the acquisition.