Bankrupt Philadelphia Energy Solutions Blames ‘Mislabeled’ Pipe for Blast that Led to Refinery’s Closure

The bankrupt former operator of a South Philadelphia refinery has blamed the supplier of an allegedly mislabeled elbow section of pipe for the 2019 leak and explosion that led to the permanent closure of the plant.

Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining and Marketing LLC, along with the trust that is liquidating the company’s remaining assets, has sued Babcock & Wilcox Co. for allegedly mislabeling the pipe, whose failure authorities say led to the catastrophic accident. The pipe was installed 46 years before the explosion when the refinery was owned by Gulf Oil.