FRANKFURT, June 23 Reuters The German companies that drive Europe39;s biggest economy are contemplating painful cuts to their output and resorting to polluting forms of energy previously considered unthinkable as they adjust to the prospect of running out of Russian gas.

Reduced Russian deliveries have accelerated efforts across German industry to find alternatives to keep factories running and limit the economic cost.

Chemical giant BASF is working out which factories could cut output first and rival Lanxess may delay shutting some coalfired power plants.

As Gazprom cut flows via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline from Russia to Germany by 60 last week, supplier to Proctor Gamble Kelheim Fibre weighed a decision to spend millions on retrofitting its gas power plant to run on oil.

The 86year old Bavarianbased supplier of viscose fibres used in hygiene products and filtration has asked the state to help fund the retrofit that would cost at least 2 million euros 2.10 million.

The economic situation has continued to worsen and our available reserves are rapidly depleting, executive Wolfgang Ott said.

Oil has only one advantage supply is secure, he added, saying a plant retrofit would take 68 months.

Ott added the group was also in talks about credit lines from statelender KfW KFW.UL, which has drawn up a support scheme for companies hit by a surge in gas prices.

Aurubis, Europe39;s top copper smelter, said it is also looking for substitutes, but that adapting power plants…