UPDATE 1-BP hits snag in Texas City FCC restart -filing

(Adds details, background)

HOUSTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - BP Plc (BP.L) hit a snag in the restart of gasoline-producing Fluidic Catalytic Cracking Unit No. 3 at its 467,720 barrel per day (bpd) Texas City, Texas, refinery on Monday, according to a notice filed with state pollution regulators.

A pump on the cat cracker "experienced mechanical trouble" during the start-up of the unit, according to the notice filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The malfunction triggered flaring at the refinery located 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) south of Houston.

A spare pump was activated to stop the flaring, according to the notice.

BP had originally planned to restart FCCU No. 3 in late December, but delayed the restart until mid-January.

BP's Texas City refinery is the third largest in the United States. (Reporting by Erwin Seba; editing by Carol Bishopric)