At approximately 14:30 hours 17th March 2008 an emission of ethylene from the main pipeline that feeds the INEOS plant at Köln ignited causing a fire at the facility. A stock tank near to the initial incident also caught fire.
Around 600 firefighters attended in and around the plant with an additional 600 members of the emergency services in support.
The ethylene pipeline was isolated and the fire extinguished at around 19:00 hours (17/03/08). The fire on the acrylonitrile stock tank was brought under control at 23:50 that evening.
At 19:30 this evening (18/03/08) local residents in the village of Worringen, to the south of the site have been informed by the Köln Authorities that the precautionary advice to remain indoors has been lifted.
INEOS apologizes to local residents and those that have been affected by the incident and thanks them for their understanding and patience as it has dealt with this incident. The company also thanks the emergency services for their assistance in successfully tackling the fire and containing the impact.
INEOS will now implement a full and thorough investigation into the causes that led to this incident.
For further information contact:
Richard Longden
Phone: +44 7710 371998
Email: richard.longden@ineoscapital.com
Dr. Patrick Giefers Kaufmännischer Geschäftsführer und Arbeitsdirektor
Telefon: 0221 / 35 55 10 91
Mobil: 0151 / 15 04 71 65
Email: patrick.giefers@innovene.com
Note to editors:
INEOS Köln GmbH is located in Dormagen and employs around 1,800 people. It manufactures petrochemical products such as ethylene, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, polyethylene, propylene, propylene oxide, propylene glycols, acrylonitrile, butadiene, C4 oligomers, isoamylene, toluene, ammonia and nitric acid. The company, which was founded in 1957, became part of the INEOS Group, on December 16, 2005.