The entire Oxea Ruhrchemie production site was evacuated today until the bomb was safely disarmed. Oxea said the production facilities were shut down in an orderly fashion to a safe state, with employees from production and engineering gathered behind the security fence. After the all-clear signal they quickly returned to their jobs and started up the production facilities.

“The cooperation with the city of Oberhausen and respective authorities has been very positive. And our employees supported the smooth running of events with their exemplary organization, said Oxeas Director for Production and Technology Georg Dambkes shortly after the all-clear signal. “We were able to ensure the safety of all persons on the site and started up the plants as quickly as possible,” he added.

The evacuation at Oxeas site involved about 1,000 workers, including site partners and contractors, Oxea spokeswoman Birgit Reichel told Lube Report.City of Oberhausen authorities said the overall evacuation today would affect about 10,000 residents and nearly 3,000 employees in commercial enterprises.

The city said the evacuation also impacts portions of the neighboring cities of Duisburg and Dinslaken, along with the Oberhausen-Arnhem railway line.

Products made at Ruhrchemie include carboxylic acids, olefin derivatives, poly alcohols and solvents, Reichel confirmed. These products are mostly made at the Ruhrchemie plant, she pointed out. But we also have other plants in Europe and the U.S. where these products are also made.