Site of explosion nears demolition date

A regional government committee council in Louisville, Kentucky, reportedly has given its approval to a property owner to demolish a food flavoring and dyes plant that was the site of a fatal explosion last year.

An architectural review committee that is part of Louisville Metro Government has voted to issue a demolition permit soon for structures at the site of the former Givaudan Sense Colour plant, according to a report from WAVE-TV.

An explosion at the facility in November 2024 fatally injured two employees and injured 11 others, according to an announcement by the United States Chemical Safety Board (USCSB) that it was initiating an investigation around that time.

“In addition to the fatalities, serious injuries and damage to the facility itself, a section of [a] pressure vessel was ejected beyond the fence line and damaged a residential unit,” the USCSB says.

A statement issued by Switzerland-based Givaudan 10 days after the explosion indicates the federal (ATF) also was conducting an investigation.

“Following the conclusion of the ATF’s investigation ruling this an industrial accident, we have initiated our own rigorous on-site investigation to understand the exact circumstances that led to the explosion and to prevent future tragedies,” Givaudan said at that time.

Now, WAVE-TV indicates at least one of those investigations concluded the explosion was caused when a cooking vessel containing a caramel coloring failed.

Rather than reponing the plant, the company has decided to relocate the Sense Colour operations, with a demolition project serving to initiate a redevelopment process.

A Louisville Metro Government district council representative tells WAVE-TV a permit likely will be issued and will allow for a demolition process to clear away the remaining structures and the damaged remnants of the November explosion. Givaudan estimates the demolition process will take five or six weeks.

Redevelopment plans are not final, with ideas including a mixed use development, according to WAVE-TV.