K+S Group said today the suspension of potash and crude salt extraction and surface production at its Unterbreizbach mine is expected to last at least until the end of November. This follows a gas explosion Oct. 1 that killed three employees and injured seven. Work underground continues to focus on ventilating the pit and removing the carbon dioxide still present there.
About 80 employees from the Unterbreizbach site are currently deployed to provide support for mining and production operations at the Werra plant site in Hesse. The continuation of short-time work has been applied for in the case of the overwhelming majority of the Unterbreizbach workforce. This also applies to employees involved in maintenance at the Merkers site.
K+S said the suspension has not affected its ability to make deliveries to customers. Existing orders are being serviced by other K+S plants.