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Fujia Petrochemical PX plant in Dalian believed to have resumed production |
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(The Guardian) -- A controversial
chemical plant in north-east China is believed to have quietly resumed
production just months after officials promised to halt operations and move the
facility. The Fujia Petrochemical PX plant in Dalian was shut down after more
than 10,000 people took to the streets on 14 August 2011 to demand its
relocation on public safety grounds.
In a bid to placate the urban, middle-class crowd, Dalian city leaders
announced that they would move the factory to an industrial park on Xizhong
Island. The demonstration was one of the biggest seen in China in recent years
and its outcome was seen as a major victory for environmental campaigners, who
thought they had seen the end of the PX plant. But there are growing fears that
the authorities are back-tracking.
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In early December, an apparently leaked document was circulated online
that suggested the plant has passed fresh safety checks and is preparing to
resume production. A few weeks later, a government official told local reporters
that the factory was once again in operation. Locals report smoke billowing up
from the plant's chimney and workers commuting as usual for their shifts. This
may just be for maintenance. Domestic media have reported a resumption of
business, but their stories have been removed from websites. The government and
the factory declined to confirm or deny the reports.
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Domestic critics believe the authorities may be having second thoughts
because the factory has been licensed for several years and its closure would
result in a significant loss of income and a large compensation payout for
breach of contract. The USD1.5bn plant is jointly owned by the city and the
private company, Fujia. It is one of the 10 biggest factories in Dalian,
generating tax revenues of almost 200 mln pounds a year.
The
Fujia petrochemical plant has the capacity to produce 700,000 tonnes of
paraxylene (PX), a benzene-based chemical widely used in plastic bottles and
polyester clothing.
mrcplast.com
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