Published on August 11, 2014
Kaohsiung has been considered as a petrochemical hub since the Japanese colonial era. The city houses an industry that provides livelihood to nearly 35,000 workers and houses several petrochemical parks like CPC Corp, Kaohsiung Refinery Plant, Dalin Township Refinery Plant, Linyuan Petrochemical Area, Dafa Industrial Area, Dashe Petrochemical Industrial Area and the Renwu Petrochemical Industrial Area. CPC’s Kaohsiung fuel refinery employs around 1,700 people and produces nearly 200,000 barrels of oil.
Before the pipeline explosions no one particularly worried about the city’s status as a petrochemical hub. However, the propylene leak and the resulting damage has got civic groups and academicians worried.
The blasts resulted in the death of 28 people, including four fighters, and injured 302 people. The pipes carrying the petrochemical substances under the city are said to be dense and most of these pipes are outdated making them extremely dangerous.
The gas companies should have looked into the leaks depressurizing the flow of gas. The fact that these firms did not even know which pipe was malfunctioning is not at all reassuring. Some went on to say that the country lacks laws governing the oversight of pipelines’ security and as these are pipes are placed underground no one knows what state they are in.
Thus, the petrochemical industry should take greater care and implement much needed safety measures to avoid disastrous consequences. The investors and firms must not by any means forget their social responsibilities.
