K+S Group on Nov. 28 reported that during start-up of factory operations, a fire broke out at the Hattorf site Nov. 25 causing damage to the process control system power supply. Based on current information, repairs will take three to four weeks. During that time, it will not be possible to resume production as planned.
K+S said plant firefighters were able to quickly put out the fire. No one was injured. However, damage was caused to the power supply for the central process control system, which controls the processing plant operations.
The production of Epsom salt from intermediate products supplied has not been affected by the damage as that takes place in a separate operational section of the Hattorf site. Production at the two other Werra plant sites, Wintershall and Unterbreizbach, is continuing normally.
The employees affected, so far as possible, will be deployed at other sites. The damage will be covered by the property and business interruption insurance held by the K+S Group. The insurance policy provides for the reimbursement of the costs of repairs to any property damaged as well as of any costs resulting from the interruption of business operations that can be evidenced.