Wu tells FPG to 'shape up' after plant fire

When asked for his views yesterday on the latest fires at the FPG's petrochemical complex in southwestern Yunlin County, and the ensuing protests by farmers and fishermen, Wu said that it would be easier to contain the fires (and anger) outside. But the real challenge lies in the "internal fires" that could take a while longer for the group to effectively get under control, he said.

Wu also expressed confidence that the FPG has the ability to deal with the crisis and prevent repetition of such industrial accidents.

At the same time, Wu said, government agencies will provide necessary help to both the group and local governments to deal with the industrial problems.

Wu said local authorities like the Yunlin County Government are empowered to make decisions on whether to suspend manufacturing operations or levy fines on plants involved in industrial safety incidents.

But he discounted the harsh criticism voiced by Yunlin County Magistrate Su Chih-fen, who claimed local residents gained nothing while the FPG paid all of the pollution prevention fees to central government.

Wu explained that the fees are levied in accordance with existing regulations and the carbon emission volumes made by individual plants. The fund has been used to promote large-scale carbon reduction projects nationwide.

In addition, the establishment of business and industrial facilities also generate job opportunities and other benefits to local residents, Wu added.

The latest fire, which broke out Sunday at an oil refining plant in the FPG's No. 6 naphtha cracker complex, in Mailiao, was the second in less than a month at the complex. The first blaze was on July 7 at an alkenes plant.

Immediately after the fires started, the two plants were ordered to suspend operations.

While awaiting the results of a thorough investigation into the recent fires at the petrochemical complex, officials at the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said it is still too early to determine whether the incidents should be factored into the environmental impact assessment for the Phase V expansion of the complex sought by the FPG.

If the fires are found to be isolated incidents, they would not be considered in the environmental impact assessment for the expansion project, said Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Hwang Jung-chiou.

However, if the fires are found to have resulted from systematic problems, the government will take a closer look at the incidents, he said.

The plants will not be allowed to resume work until they are given the all-clear based on inspections by the Environmental Protection Administration, Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) and fire authorities, he added.

As for the complaints that Sunday's fire has polluted rice paddies and fish farms in the neighborhood, Hwang said that if the FPG is found to be responsible for the pollution, it will have to compensate the affected farmers and fishermen.

Chen Tien-shou, deputy director general of the Council of Agriculture's Fisheries Agency, said five fish farms have reported that their hard clams and tilapia died immediately after the fire. The Yunlin County Government is investigating the claims, he said.

The agency will help the farmers seek compensation from the FPG if the investigation finds that the fish had died as a result of the fire, he said.

Meanwhile, CLA Deputy Minister Kuo Fang-yu said his council will conduct intensive industrial safety inspections at all plants in the petrochemical complex.

The regular inspections will be carried on a weekly basis instead of at intervals of two weeks or one month, as happens now.

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