Jilin PetroChemical penalized for benzene spill in Songhua river

30-Jan-07

Jilin PetroChemical, a subsidiary of PetroChina, responsible for the benzene spill in China's Songhua River in 2005, has been fined 1 million yuan (US$130,000). The benzene spill poisoned the water that reaches millions of people in both China and across the border into Russia. Harbin, a vast city of 9 million, had its water supply switched off for almost a week to allow the spill to be washed past and had to rely on standpipes and water shipped in on a fleet of trucks. The chemical plant explosion and subsequent leak killed eight people and acted as a catalyst for the Chinese government to publicly acknowledge that more needed to be done in the realm of environmental protection. Jilin PetroChemical initially denied responsibility for the spill last November and the local authorities tried to keep a lid on it, covering up the extent of the problem. But as details emerged and it became clear that this was the worst inland spill in recent history, which saw over 100 tons of highly toxic benzene reach the water course.