MOSCOW (MRC) -- A gas leak at LG Polymers India Pvt Ltd polymer plant at Visakhapatnam, India left at least eight dead and about 800 people sick, reported Kemicalinfo.
The incident took place on 7 May at around 02:30 am IST.
The gas reportedly started leaking when the workers were preparing to reopen the plant today post lockdown. The gas was reportedly leaked out from two 5,000 metric tons tanks, which had been unattended since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
South Korea’s LG Chemical took over the plant from a local Indian company in the late 1990s.
"We are working together with the local authorities to assess the damage caused to the local people and to take whatever it takes to protect them and our workers,”"LG Chemical said in a statement. "The gas leak from the factory is now under control. But the gas can cause vomiting and dizziness when inhaled. We are doing all we can to ensure medical treatment as quickly as possible."
LG Polymers India plant produces polystyrene (PS) and expandable polystyrene (EPS).
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, March 2020 estimated consumption of PS and styrene plastics in Russia dropped by 2% year on year, totalling 42,130 tonnes. The estimated consumption totalled 121,880 tonnes in the first three months of 2020, down by 2% year on year. Overall, Russian plants produced 42,790 tonnes in March 2020.
MRC