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Ludwigshafen (dpa / lrs) - Due to a technical defect, a steam cracker at BASF's Ludwigshafen headquarters had to cease operations on Wednesday.
According to the chemical company, excess gases in the plant were burned using a huge torch.
This resulted in a glow of fire that was visible from afar and soot formation.
The burning is expected to continue on Thursday.
Therefore, the huge torch should remain visible on that day.
The responsible authorities are informed, as the company continues to say.
The steam cracker breaks down raw gasoline with the addition of steam at around 850 degrees.
According to the group, a number of important chemical building blocks for production at the site are created in the large plants.
These included ethylene and propylene, as it continues to be called.
This would be used to produce plastics, paints, detergent raw materials and pesticides, among other things.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210210-99-379862 / 2
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Communication from BASF