The deadly gas pipeline explosions in Greater Kaohsiung on July 31 and Aug. 1 illustrated the terrible consequences of neglecting public safety and the frustration caused by irresponsible governance on behalf of local and central governments.
Every time industry-related accidents occur in Taiwan — from the use of plasticizers and industrial starch in food products, to toxic wastewater and air pollution and, now, dangerous underground industrial pipelines — the nation’s typical response is to sympathize with the victims and then condemn the relevant industry and government officials for their reckless and irresponsible behavior.
The gas pipeline explosions have exposed several problems relating to the development of the nation’s petrochemical industry. Unless the nation addresses and examines these problems thoroughly, similar tragedies are bound to reoccur in the future.
In addition to relief and reconstruction work, the government’s first priority is to ensure the safety of Greater Kaohsiung’s underground industrial pipelines and relocate those pipelines, if necessary.
Most importantly, Taiwan needs a safe and stable supply of domestically produced petrochemical products, because the cost of importing propene — the byproduct of oil refining — is high, and because the industry creates jobs, making important contributions to the economy.
Last week, the Greater Kaohsiung Government ordered petrochemical companies to suspend the use of their underground pipelines and demanded LCY Chemical Corp shut down one of its plants in the Dashe District (大社) for safety reasons. It is expected that all petrochemical firms in the region will require comprehensive inspections of their pipeline networks and that large-scale underground pipeline replacement will follow.
However, Greater Kaohsiung is not the only city that has residential and commercial districts sitting on top of pipelines carrying industrial products from producers to middle and downstream customers.
Effectively, all underground pipelines transporting materials hold potential dangers, and if not appropriately built and maintained, they are ticking time-bombs that even a big earthquake could detonate, causing severe damage akin to the explosions in Greater Kaohsiung, or even worse.
Immediately replacing old industrial pipelines and relocating pipelines to less populated areas is an obvious plan. A more long-term option is for the government to relocate petrochemical manufacturing facilities to specially designated industrial zones. After all, the petrochemical industry is a critical manufacturing sector for the nation, one which supplies key raw materials for other sectors such as machinery, footwear, textiles, flat panels, semiconductors and biotechnology.
Yet the nation should remain realistic and mindful of a government that has for years failed to require petrochemical firms to install mechanisms that mitigate their economic, social and environmental impact.
The government’s pro-business attitude has only served to fan the flames of public anger, creating negativity and anti-business sentiment.
The recent public backlash against the petrochemical industry is regrettable, because what Taiwan needs now is not to wave goodbye to the industry, but to develop an efficient management and oversight mechanism regarding underground pipelines.
The nation must also encourage businesses to continue their investment in industrial safety and engage more with local communities through better social corporate citizenship programs.
Taiwanese hopes should now focus absolutely on petrochemical firms upgrading their products for higher added value and higher quality to ensure sustainable development.
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