German petrochemical company BASF has shut down its steam crackers at its huge Ludwigshafen site in Germany after an explosion at the port, a company source said Monday.
"I can confirm there has been an explosion at Ludwigshafen facility, there are several fires and that both crackers are down. Other plants on the site are being shut down for safety reasons," a spokeswoman said.
The explosion took place as work was being carried out on a pipeline, she added without giving further information.
"Ludwigshafen residents are asked to remain indoors and to close all doors and windows," the chemical company said in a statement said on Twitter.
The two steam crackers, which have a combined capacity of 620,00 mt of ethylene, use naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas as feedstock. A company statement confirmed there had been some gas flaring at the site.
The site is the headquarters of BASF, one of the biggest chemical companies in the world, and produces a range of basic plastics and specialty chemicals.
