Fire in our zinc sulphate plant

Questions and answers

Here you will find all the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the fire in our zinc sulphate plant.

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General information

What happened?
On September 10 at around 4:20 p.m., a fire broke out in the zinc sulphate plant at the GRILLO factory in Duisburg. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.
Is the fire completely extinguished?
The fire that had broken out was completely extinguished. The fire department has officially declared its mission over.
Were there any casualties?
Fortunately, there was no personal injury in the incident. One slightly injured person, who inhaled smoke gas, was treated directly on site by the ambulance and has recovered. There was also no danger to residents in Duisburg at any time from the cloud of smoke gas.
What was the cause of the fire?

The cause of the fire was a technical defect in a fan in the zinc sulphate plant.

Are there risks for the environment?

No, at this stage there are no indications of any significant environmental hazards as a result of the fire. We are working closely with the relevant environmental authorities to ensure that all necessary protective measures are observed.

Where can I find out about current developments and news?
An overview of all developments and new information can be found here:

Information for zinc sulphate customers

Is the zinc sulphate plant currently in production?
No, the fire damage makes production by the zinc sulphate plant impossible at present.
How high are the zinc sulphate stocks? Is the ability to deliver impaired?
Yes, as the system is currently not running, there are delivery disruptions. We have already informed our customers about this and are in close contact with them to find solutions.
When can production at the zinc sulphate plant be resumed?
It is not yet known when production is expected to resume. We are currently assessing all the damage and will only be able to provide more precise information once we have done so. We are doing our best to ensure that production can restart as soon as possible and are currently working on alternative options to maintain delivery capability in the best possible way.

Information for customers of other chemical products

Was there damage to other systems?
Yes, currently the plants of the three product lines zinc sulphate, waste acid & sulphur dioxide cannot be operated.
What does this mean for the ability to supply sulphur dioxide?

The ability to supply sulphur dioxide is currently impaired as the plant is currently not running due to the fire. We will keep you informed about the current status.

What does this mean for the availability of sulphuric acid?
The ability to supply sulphuric acid is not affected as the production plant is located in Frankfurt Höchst. There is no direct connection to the plant in Duisburg.
What does this mean for Oleum's ability to deliver?

Oleum’s ability to deliver is not affected as the production plant is located in Frankfurt Höchst. There is no direct connection to the plant in Duisburg.

Can my used acids be recycled further?

No, as the recycling of used acids takes place at our site in Duisburg and the corresponding facilities cannot currently be operated.

What does this mean for the availability of sodium bisulphate?

The ability to supply sodium bisulphate is not affected as the production plant is located in Frankfurt Höchst. There is no direct connection to the plant in Duisburg.

What does this mean for the availability of sodium bisulphite?

The ability to supply sodium bisulphite is not affected as the production plant is located in Frankfurt Höchst. There is no direct connection to the plant in Duisburg.

What does this mean for the availability of sodium pyrosulfite?

The ability to supply sodium pyrosulphite is not affected as the production plant is located in Frankfurt Höchst. There is no direct connection to the plant in Duisburg.

What does this mean for the delivery capability of DMS?

DMS’s ability to deliver is not affected as the production plant is located in Frankfurt Höchst. There is no direct connection to the plant in Duisburg.

What does this mean for DME's ability to deliver?

DME’s ability to deliver is not affected as the production plant is located in Frankfurt Höchst. There is no direct connection to the plant in Duisburg.

What does this mean for the availability of hydrochloric acid?

The ability to supply hydrochloric acid is not affected as the production plant is located in Frankfurt Höchst. There is no direct connection to the plant in Duisburg.

What does this mean for ImproBed's ability to deliver?

ImproBed’s ability to deliver is not affected as the additive production plant is located in Frankfurt Höchst. There is no direct connection to the plant in Duisburg.

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Nadine Hoffmann

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