A major Kaohsiung oil refinery has been temporarily shut down and its operator fined after two explosions occurred late on Thursday, with no casualties, toxic emissions or industrial underground pipeline damage being reported, the Kaohsiung City Government said yesterday.
The Dalin Refinery operated by state-owned CPC Corp, Taiwan experienced explosions at 10:30pm and 11:03pm, with the ensuing fires being brought under control at 11:21pm, the Kaohsiung Environmental Protection Bureau said.
The huge fire and fumes caused by the explosions have not led to abnormal environmental air pollution readings, the bureau said, adding that it would continue monitoring air quality at the site.
Photo courtesy of the Kaohsiung City Government
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said the explosions took place at a hydrotreater, which is used to remove sulfur from refined petroleum products to reduce the sulfur dioxide emissions they generate.
During the restart of the facility, which had just undergone annual maintenance, the pressure built up in an air cooler, which resulted in the explosions, releasing hydrogen contained in it, said Chen, who visited the refinery last night.
After the explosions, the company was fined NT$5 million (US$155,628) by the bureau for breaching the Air Pollution Control Act (空氣污染防制法) and NT$300,000 by the Kaohsiung Labor Affairs Bureau.
The refinery’s operations have also been suspended until further examinations can be carried out to ensure plant safety, Chen said, criticizing CPC for its sloppy oversight.
“Such a public safety incident is completely inexcusable. I think CPC is doing a poor job,” he told reporters at the site of the incident.
Several local residents and borough wardens approached Chen, demanding the complete halt of the refinery’s operations or its relocation, referring to CPC as a “loose cannon.”
The refinery has reported four operation violations within the past year, resulting in fires and leaks, the Environmental Protection Bureau said.
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