Page 21 - Plastics News October 2016
P. 21
Company News
BASF to construct acetylene production plant in Ludwigshafen
BASF will build a world-scale production plant for construction, consumer goods and textiles industries.
acetylene at its Ludwigshafen site. The plant will BASF has also operated an acetylene plant at its Verbund
start up at the end of 2019 and replace the existing plant. site in Geismar, Louisiana, since 2000.
The new facility will have the capacity to produce 90,000
metric tpa of Fire breaks out at Haldia
acetylene and will Petrochemicals Ltd's West
use the world’s Bengal plant
most efficient
production Afire broke out at Haldia Petrochemicals Limited
process. "With (HPL)'s plant in West Bengal's East Medinipur
the new plant, we district. However, no casualty was reported in the
are strengthening incident. According to reports, the fire was first noticed
the BASF Verbund in an ethylene gas pipeline at around 11:30 am. The
by ensuring an fire broke out at HPL at 11:30 in the morning. The
efficient supply of the key intermediate acetylene workers rushed
at our Ludwigshafen site. This will improve our to the spot
competitiveness and support growth in the various after getting
acetylene value chains,” said Dr. Stefan Blank, President the news. They
of the Intermediates division. “We have been working on tried to douse
acetylene production for more than 50 years and have the flames
continuously refined the associated processes during this themselves.
time. Accordingly, the new plant in Ludwigshafen will use 12 fire tenders
state-of-the-art technical equipment and processes. "As including the
an important starting material for many BASF products factory’s own
at the Ludwigshafen site and for products produced by tenders from Haldia’s several factories, have been
our customers, acetylene is very important to BASF. rushed to the spot. The HPL officials refused to
Integrating this plant within our Verbund approach offers comment over the reason for the fire breakout or
advantages such as efficient use of resources, excellent the amount of loss incurred due to the fire. After
production synergies and short supply routes. This will preliminary investigation, fire officials said that the
further enhance the long-term competitiveness of our fire might have started due to a leakage in ethylene
Ludwigshafen site,” said Dr. Uwe Liebelt, head of the gas pipeline. 10 fire tender engines rushed to the
BASF Ludwigshafen Verbund site. spot and firemen fought for hours to douse the blaze.
The fire officials said that it is being suspected that
With its modern production process, the plant will after a gas pipe broke, the gas spread which lead to
strengthen the BASF Verbund in Ludwigshafen. The the fire. The fire broke out at HPL at 11:30 in the
process uses raw materials very efficiently. Furthermore, morning. The workers rushed to the spot after getting
the heat given off during production will be used to the news. They tried to douse the flames themselves.
generate energy. The end-product yield is higher and by- 12 fire tenders including the factory’s own tenders
products are used efficiently. As a chemical component, from Haldia’s several factories, have been rushed to
acetylene has a diverse range of applications. It is an the spot. The HPL officials refused to comment over
important starting material for many everyday products, the reason for the fire breakout or the amount of loss
including pharmaceuticals, plastics, solvents, electronic incurred due to the fire.
chemicals and highly elastic textile fibers. BASF
customers use these products in the automotive, pharma,
Plastics News | O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6 21
