Review taskforce fails to reach final conclusion on proposed naphtha cracker complex in Kuokuang

25-Apr-11

A review taskforce failed to reach a final conclusion on the future of a proposed naphtha cracker complex by Kuokuang Petrochemical Technology Co. The taskforce has proposed two scenarios to be evaluated by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Committee next month, a decision that did not please environmentalists- That the committee either reject the project, which was planned to be constructed in Dacheng Township, Changhua County, or give it conditional approval. In all, 11 reasons were given as to why the project should be abandoned and 24 conditions were listed if conditional approval were given. The government head seems to be opposed to the cracker complex, explaining that the complex, which was to be built in a wetland area, would have an “unbearable” impact on the local ecology and environment. The Council of Economic Affairs proposes to instruct state-run refiner CPC Corp, Taiwan, the largest shareholder of KPTC, to reject building the complex in Changhua during a shareholders’ meeting next week. The Council will also assist KPTC in weighing other options, including moving the complex abroad, while helping the township create more employment.