CPC Dalin Plant Fire Sparks Air Pollution Concerns; Company Apologizes

A fire erupted late Tuesday night at the China Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Dalin plant in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, leading to air pollution alerts and an apology from the state-owned energy company. The blaze, which began around 9:46 p.m. on August 23, stemmed from a heavy oil leak from a pump in the No. 11 distillation unit. Plant firefighters responded swiftly, controlling the fire within 30 minutes. The Kaohsiung Fire Bureau arrived to assist with crowd control and firefighting efforts, deploying 20 vehicles and 44 personnel, along with a drone and two firefighting robots. The fire was fully extinguished by 11:15 p.m., with continuous water spraying to prevent reignition. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The incident caused public alarm, prompting CPC's Dalin plant to issue a statement expressing "deep apologies" for the public's fear. The Kaohsiung city government has instructed CPC to immediately implement internal equipment inspections, focusing on aging pumps, pipelines, and high-risk areas. They also demanded a comprehensive safety review and preventive maintenance to ensure the safety of residents and employees. The government stressed the need for CPC to reinforce emergency response standard operating procedures for its on-site fire brigade and employees to enhance disaster prevention and response capabilities.

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The incident caused public alarm, prompting CPC's Dalin plant to issue a statement expressing "deep apologies" for the public's fear.