Premier wants service center at petrochemical complex

"If an industrial accident occurs, the service center would be able to assess the situation, contact the central and local governments, and immediately launch emergency operations," We said at a Cabinet meeting.

In response, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Hwang Jung-chiou said after the Cabinet meeting that the MOEA will establish a service center at the petrochemical complex by the end of August.

The center will help the local government to handle emergency situations and will also serve as a liaison office between the factories and residents of the arera, Hwang said.

Noting that the MOEA administrative team at the complex is a small one comprising three people, Hwang said more people will be recruited to staff the service center.

Meanwile, Yunlin County Magistrate Su Chih-fen said Thursday that the centrail government should carry out its supervisory responsibilities, as the local government cannot effectively enforce environmental laws at the petrochemical complex.

At a public hearing held by the opposition Democratic Progrssive Party (DPP), Su said that the petrochemical complex has 1,881 oil tanks, which she referred to as powerful bombs that could put the county's residents at risk.

She suggested the premier visit Yunlin County to gain a better understanding of the safety issues related to the naphtha cracking plant complex.

The pollution from the recent fires caused serious damage to the agricultural and fisheries industries in the area and exposed the people of Yunlin to senven times the level of pollution in other parts of the country, she said.

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