BASF to Resume Operations After Deadly Explosion

20 Oct 2016 --- BASF will gradually resume chemical production following the fatal explosion earlier this week at its Ludwigshafen headquarters that has left three people dead and injured many more.

Following an intensive assessment of the safety status and in close coordination with the Southern Structure and Licensing Directorate, both steam crackers (turning oil distillates into petrochemical building blocks for plastics, coatings and solvents) at BASF in the Germany city will be gradually restarted over the next few days.

The cause of the explosion still remains unclear and investigations continue at the plant. The lifeless body of a person was recovered yesterday (Oct 19) in the northern basin of the port of BASF as the search continued for a missing person. Submariners of the police and firefighters Ludwigshafen and Mannheim had been searching since the fire.

Two firefighters were also killed during Monday’s accident which happened during maintenance work on a pipe and resulted in an explosion and then fire. It damaged various pipelines including those for externally purchased raw materials. Therefore, BASF has declared Force Majeure for the purchase of naphtha, ethylene and propylene.

“Both steam crackers were shut down as a result of a fire in the North Harbor on October 17, 2016, due to the interruption in raw material supply. As a result, additional Verbund plants in the ethylene and propylene value chains were shut down or production reduced. In total, 24 plants have been shut down, including both steam crackers, due to the fire. Some of the plants were able to continue producing using existing raw material inventory,” says a BASF statement.

“BASF is currently preparing an alternative naphtha supply for the steam crackers via the harbor on Friesenheim Island. This supply is decoupled from the incident area. When the steam crackers are started up, most of the affected plants will also be gradually restarted or will increase production over the next few days.”

BASF says various measures are being evaluated to minimize the impact on customer deliveries and the company is in close contact with its customers to keep them informed about the current availability of products.

On the logistics side, the North Harbor is currently not operational, while the riverside harbor, the harbor on Friesenheim Island and the tank farms are functional. Fluids can be handled at the harbor on Friesenheim Island. At the river harbor fluids and solids can be handled.

“Gate 15 is currently closed. Trucks that arrive at the site should drive to the parking area of the sewage plant. There they will receive further instructions from BASF employees and will be forwarded to gates 12, 11 and 6 for dispatch,” adds the statement. “The intermodal transport terminal is currently closed for safety reasons. The facility is not damaged and can be accessed after being cleared. The railway system was also not damaged by the incident. The train service on-site is available. The incoming and outgoing rail traffic is being handled via the southern exit, since the northern exit is currently closed due to safety reasons. The passenger traffic between the Ludwigshafen main station and the site is available.”

Speaking directly about the third person who was discovered yesterday, BASF spokesperson Margret Suckale, said: “Unfortunately, it seems that the worst case scenario has come true and now we regret a third died. Our thoughts are with the families and the injured. Employees around the world have held a minute's silence in memory of our colleagues.”

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