Topic: Ludwigshafen

Michael Yon describes the massive BASF complex in Ludwigshafen, Germany, which is being forced to shut down due to the loss of natural gas feedstocks. He discusses Seymour Hersh's report on the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, suggesting the U.S. is the primary suspect. The deindustrialization of Germany is framed as a catastrophic blow to the global production of ammonia, medicines, and industrial chemicals.

Michael Yon describes the BASF plant in Ludwigshafen as a "Fairbund" system where 45,000 different chemicals are produced in an integrated fashion. He reports that if the plant loses its natural gas supply, it may face a permanent shutdown, as many of its processes have run continuously since the 1960s. In response to the energy crisis, Germans are reportedly clear-cutting forests to burn green wood for heat this winter.