Russian Gas Cuts Threaten World’s Largest Chemicals Hub

LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany—For years, BASF SE one of many world’s largest chemical compounds corporations, constructed its enterprise mannequin round low-cost and plentiful Russian pure fuel, which it makes use of to generate energy and as feedstock for merchandise that make it into toothpaste, medicines and vehicles.

Today, dwindling Russian gas supplies are proving a risk to the corporate’s huge manufacturing hub right here—the world’s largest built-in chemical advanced spanning some 200 vegetation. Earlier this month, Russia started throttling back its supply of gas to Germany and different European nations. In response, firm executives are doing what was unthinkable only a few months in the past: contemplating how you can probably shut down the advanced if fuel provides fall additional.