Chemical plantsNearly 1,000 Chinese chemical plants to relocate in wake of Tianjin explosions
Local governments across China have submitted plans to relocate or upgrade about 1,000 chemical plants in the wake of the massive explosions in Tianjin earlier this month, which killed 147 people. The blast at a warehouse in which large quantities of chemicals were stored was China’s worst industrial accident in recent years. Chinese health authorities said that the levels of sodium cyanide in several reservoirs in Tianjin were up to ten times higher than allowed, and urged city resident to use bottled water until the level of the toxic chemical subsides.
Local governments across China have submitted plans to relocate or upgrade about 1,000 chemical plants in the wake of the massive explosions in Tianjin earlier this month, which killed 147 people.
The blast at a warehouse in which large quantities of chemicals were stored was China’s worst industrial accident in recent years.
Criticism was voiced about locating a storage facility for volatile and toxic chemicals right next to densely populated residential areas, and about lax safety monitoring which allowed the company operating the facility to store the chemicals on site without proper license.
Miao Wei, China’s industry minister, said local governments were moving in a more determined fashion to relocate and upgrade chemical plants.
“We started to work with State Administration of Work Safety last year to make arrangements for the relocation and revamping of chemical plants in densely populated urban areas. Frankly, our work is not actively supported locally in the past year,” Miao told the Communist party-run People’s Daily newspaper.
The Department of Industry said that about 1,000 chemical plants need to be relocated or upgraded at a total cost of around 400 billion yuan ($62.6 billion).
Miao told the paper that local government and the companies involved would have to take care of part of the cost while central government would provide support. He said he wanted to “accelerate the relocation and revamping,” which would help to improve pollution and emission levels.
The Guardian reports that two powerful explosions destroyed a warehouse at the port city of Tianjin on 12 August. Authorities have said up to forty types of chemicals were at the warehouse, including large quantities of sodium cyanide. Government regulations bar such facilities from being located closer than 0.6 miles from public places, transport hubs, or residential areas.
Critics charged that at least two other companies which handled flammable and toxic chemicals were operating in the same area, and that their storage facilities were less than a mile away from a school and a residential area.
Chinese health authorities said that the levels of sodium cyanide in several reservoirs in Tianjin were up to ten times higher than allowed, and urged the city’s resident to use bottled water until the level of the toxic chemical subsides.
