SYDNEY—Australian environment officials have ordered Orica Ltd., the world's largest explosives maker, to shut down one of its plants following chemical leaks.
The New South Wales state Environment Protection Agency said Thursday that the Melbourne-based company's performance at the plant near the coastal city of Newcastle had been unacceptable.
Orica is facing charges over an Aug. 8 leak from the plant that sent traces of the carcinogen hexavalent chromium into the air. The dangers of the compound were featured in the Oscar-winning movie "Erin Brockovich."
On Wednesday, two workers were hospitalized after an ammonia leak at the same plant.
An Orica spokeswoman declined to comment.
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