German chems industry addresses safety concerns

11 September 2008 17:16  [Source: ICIS news]

TORONTO (ICIS news)--German chemical and energy firms, unions and politicians have committed to work harder to address safety concerns about new projects following a series of chemical accidents in the country’s northwestern state of North-Rhine Westphalia, they said on Thursday after a summit called by the state’s economics and environment ministers.

 

The many accidents this year, including fire at INEOS' petrochemicals complex near Cologne in March, has heightened residents’ concerns over the safety of existing and planned new projects, including Bayer’s carbon monoxide (CO) pipeline.

  

North-Rhine Westphalia, Europe’s top industrial production and energy region, needed new projects for future growth and employment, the participants said in a joint statement issued by the two ministries.

 

However, it was imperative that projects were planned and implemented in a transparent manner and in line with the highest safety and environmental standards to assure that residents accepted new large plants and facilities.

 

“We are taking residents' justified worries and fears very seriously, that is part of North-Rhine Westphalia’s tradition as a top site for industrial production,” they said.

 

The meeting included top representatives from Bayer MaterialScience, Ashland-Sudchemie, INEOS, Kronos, German chemical industry group Verband der Chemischen Industrie and union IG BCE.

 

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By: Stefan Baumgarten
+1 713 525 2653

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