Ludwigshafen

Current flare activity

Please visit our German website for an overview of current and planned flare activities.

Flares mean one thing above all:
A plus in safety.

BASF inside | explains: Flare activity (German with English subtitles)

Flares at the Ludwigshafen site

Flares are just as much a part of the Ludwigshafen site’s image as columns or pipe racks. Many of them are hardly visible but some attract a great deal of attention when they go into operation.

Why and when does the torch burn?

Flares are used for two reasons in particular: For one, they incinerate the exhaust gas that forms in the plants, but they are also required as safety facilities that serve to burn off excess gas. These accrue most often when starting up or shutting down a plant, for example during repairs or inspections.

Are the torches different from each other?

There are about 20 safety flares at the Ludwigshafen site. Each flare or each flare system is custom-made, tailored to the specific properties and quantity of gas in the respective plant. For some flares, their operation is associated with a clearly visible fiery glow, noise generation and odor development. In the North section of the site, the steamcracker's elevated flare is especially striking with its 140 meters.

Further information:

Aufnahmen von einem Journalistenbesuch in der Umweltzentrale

Environmental Monitoring:
0621/60-4040

BASF’s Environmental Monitoring Center is the point of contact for any kinds of environmental problems around the clock, for both employees and residents.

Public Hotline:
0800/5050500

In order to provide information quickly, transparently and comprehensively in the event of an incident, BASF has set up a public telephone service. Information is provided via a recorded message or directly and personally.

Air Emissions

Regular monitoring and assessing our emissions to air is part of our environmental management.