One of Braskem SA's polyethylene production units in southern Brazil's Triunfo petrochemical complex suffered an explosion and fire on Dec. 4, halting operations at the unit.
Braskem said there was an “operational occurrence” at its PE production unit PE6 at Triunfo, at 6:50 p.m. on Dec. 4, but would not provide further details on the matter, or potential impacts on the company's total PE production.
“This is one of its 22 polyethylene production lines, with capacity of 6,000 metric tons per month,” the company said in a statement to Plastics News on Dec. 7.
No one was harmed, the company said, and the cause is being evaluated while Braskem considers when to restart the industrial unit. Its other PE production lines are operating normally, Braskem said.