China: Report – Government Making Safety Checks at Chemical Plants Following Protests
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Tuesday, 04 October 2011 |
The Government in Beijing has launched a series of safety checks at petrochemical plants across the country, according to the South China Morning Post. The move comes in the wake of a major protest in Dalian against a controversial plant in the city.
The protest of August 14 followed the narrow aversion of a major chemical spill in the city of six million people. Tens of thousands took to the streets, sparking fears that protests against pollution and petrochemical plants would spread to other Chinese cities. The protest forced authorities to shut down and relocate the plant, costing over 60 billian yuan.
Two weeks ago, Premier Wen Jiabao visited the city, warning of the dangers posed in processing chemicals such as PX, which was handled at the Dalian plant. The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Environmental Protection are among five ministries involved in the safety campaign, which will call also on local authorities to review and enforce safety laws relating to the handling of PX and other potentially hazardous chemicals.
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