Operations of chemical plants need strict safety supervision

A PARAXYLENE PLANT IN ZHANGZHOU, FUJIAN PROVINCE in East China, suffered an explosion on Monday, and the tremors could be felt about 50 kilometers away, while the fire was not extinguished until the next day. PX plants have aroused fierce opposition in recent years because residents fear they might be a safety risk. Comments:

The government has invested heavily in telling the public paraxylene is safe and not so poisonous as they think, while officials in Zhangzhou promised, after a blast two years ago, that it would never happen again. Please, officials who get paid from taxpayers' money, do your jobs and ensure the safety of paraxylene projects, so that the public can trust your promises.

Beijing News, April 8