Indian State Government Orders LG Chem to Return Cause Substance of 'Gas Leak Accident' to Korea

On the 7th (local time), residents are moving a woman injured in a gas leak accident at a chemical plant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, southern India. On the same day, a gas leak occurred at the LG Polymers India plant in Visakhapatnam, resulting in at least 9 nearby residents dying from poisoning and hundreds being hospitalized. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The Indian state government has instructed LG Chem to transfer all styrene inventory, suspected to be the cause of the gas leak accident that occurred on the 7th, back to Korea.

According to the Indian industry and local media on the 12th, YS Jaganmohan Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, ordered LG Chem affiliate LG Polymers to return 13,000 tons (t) of styrene inventory to Korea. Already, 8,000 tons have been loaded onto a ship bound for Korea.

Earlier, in the early hours of the 7th, a gas leak accident occurred at LG Polymers India’s factory in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the deaths of 12 nearby residents and hospitalization of 800 to 1,000 residents. Local police are reported to suspect that the gas leaked from the chemical styrene monomer (SM) stored in tanks inside the factory.

LG Polymers stated regarding the cause of the accident, "It is presumed that vapor leaked from the tank," and added, "Following the Indian government’s instructions, all styrene stored in the factory and elsewhere is being transferred to Korea."

Exposure to high concentrations of styrene, used as a raw material for chemical products, is known to stimulate the nervous system, causing symptoms such as difficulty breathing, dizziness, and nausea. After the accident, some local residents demanded the closure of the factory, and authorities also stated that if violations of environmental regulations are found, the factory’s license could be revoked.

The British daily The Guardian and some local media pointed out that LG Polymers violated environmental regulations during the factory’s equipment expansion process. Based on the equipment expansion application statement submitted by LG Polymers to authorities in May 2019, The Guardian claimed that LG Polymers did not receive valid approval from the supervisory agency regarding environmental regulations at that time.

The Indian Ministry of Environment also pointed out on the 8th in a provisional investigation result that "LG Polymers applied for equipment expansion permission in March, but started operations before approval was granted," calling this a violation of environmental regulations.

In response, LG Polymers explained, "We have obtained environmental-related permits such as Consent for Establishment (CFE) and Consent for Operation (CFO) since before 2006," and stated, "The environmental regulation violation claims raised by The Guardian and others are not true." They also added, "The Indian government introduced a new regulation called Environmental Clearance (EC) in 2006, but LG Polymers was not a company subject to obtaining EC," and "Nevertheless, we were voluntarily applying for self-reporting to receive a clear judgment from the central government of India."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.