On March 5, BASF issued a force majeure statement. As a result of a fire in the north plant area of BASF’s Ludwigshafen plant on March 3, the leakage of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and oxygen-containing gas caused the company’s internal supply of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to be interrupted. As the production of neopentyl glycol (Neol®) was subjected to force majeure, the northern plant of the Ludwigshafen plant could not continue to produce neopentyl glycol (Neol®).
At 9:30 on March 3, 2021, a fire broke out in the northern plant area of BASF's Ludwigshafen plant, which caused the leakage of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, oxygen-containing gas and methyldiethanolamine. A short period of fire and thick smoke were clearly visible outside the factory, which was very frightening. After receiving the news, the factory's fire department rushed to the scene for disposal as soon as possible. So far, the fire has been brought under control, and the specific cause is still under investigation.
After the incident, as a precaution, the company took employees near the leak site to the factory's ambulance for observation to avoid the intrusion of toxic gases. After the inspection is confirmed that the employee has not inhaled toxic gas, he can return to the factory on the same day.
It is reported that at least 150 kilograms of methyldiethanolamine in the accident is slightly harmful to water and may cause serious eye irritation. The substance enters the Rhine through the cooling water channel. Due to the leakage in the Rhine and the dilution of the product, there is no harm to aquatic life. As a preventive measure, the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Environment has issued information on the Rhine River to the regions along the Rhine. In addition, the team’s environmental monitoring truck recorded air emissions on the roads inside and outside the factory site, but did not find elevated levels.
