Yunlin County government issues NT$1 million fine after Formosa Plastics fire (2010/07/26)

A local environmental agency has fined Formosa Plastics NT$1 million for air pollution law violations. The fine came after a massive fire at the company's petrochemical complex in Yunlin. County officials also ordered that a refinery unit be closed and said that it must pass air quality and other safety inspections before reopening.

When the fire broke out at the Formosa Plastics petrochemical complex in Yunlin County's Mailiao, flames pierced the night sky. The fire could be seen from as far as 30 kilometers away.

Yang Min-lin
Yunlin County Fire Department
It was caused by a heavy oil leak. If hydrogen were allowed to mix in, the danger would increase. But currently the hydrogen is under control.

After burning all night, the fire was brought under control on Monday. As daylight appeared, only smoke could be seen. But more than a dozen columns of water were being sprayed in to cool things down.

Lin Fu-tien
Mailiao Residents Self-Help Association
We want all work to stop at the plant. After a comprehensive review of the whole plant by all relevant authorities has been completed and there are no safety concerns, then production can continue.

Yunlin County Commissioner Su Chih-fen emphasized that the plant is coming up for a 10-year inspection and the environmental impact assessment for its fifth-stage expansion is at a sensitive juncture, causing local concerns. The central government is unwilling to set up communication channels between the plant and the public, causing the two sides to line up against each other.

Su Chih-fen
Yunlin County Commissioner
Related documents have been passed on to the central government, but no official response has been received from any department. Nothing at all. So I think the public's reaction to the fifth-stage expansion is very reasonable.

After two major fires in the last month, the Yunlin County government's Environmental Protection Bureau has issued a NT$1 million fine. It also ordered that work at related parts of the plant be stopped and said that air quality and other safety inspections must be passed before the company can reopen the unit.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• petrochemical
• refinery
• Su
• Chih-fen
• Yunlin
• central
• government