Celanese open to talks with Fraport on runway row

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Chemicals group Celanese (CE.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)CZZG.DE is open to negotiations with Frankfurt airport operator Fraport (FRAG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) over a plastics plant that is near a planned new runway, a Celanese board member said on Thursday.

But Lyndon Cole, vice president of the Celanese board of management, ruled out closing the Ticona plant, which it says would be too close to the runway if it is built according to current plans.

"We would categorically exclude a closure," Cole told the Reuters Chemicals Summit. "We've operated that plant safely for many, many years."

Celanese says the new runway would lead to more noise, air turbulence and a higher risk of a plane crashing into the plant. It has cited the Seveso II European directive, which is aimed at preventing major accidents at chemical facilities and threatened to take Fraport to court to block the project.

Cole left the door open, though, for future talks with Fraport and said the importance of expansion at the airport must be recognized.

"I wouldn't generally exclude a negotiation with Fraport at some point," Cole said. "Is that right now? Absolutely not."

Cole said if the Ticona plant was moved, Celanese could not be expected to pay the bill.

He declined to identify how much such a move would cost. "It would not be a small amount of money," he said.

Fraport says it sees no unacceptable adverse effects on the plant from the new runway.